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University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia Tech
Volleyball To Kick Off Late Night With Roy
October 10, 2017 | Volleyball
CHAPEL HILL - North Carolina looks to continue its successful homestand this weekend with visits from Virginia Tech and Virginia. The weekend begins at the Dean E. Smith Center, home of the 2017 NCAA Champion Men's Basketball team, where a 5 p.m. volleyball match between UNC and Virginia Tech kicks off the annual Late Night with Roy preseason festivities. Admission is free for the entire evening with open seating filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open at 4 p.m. Carolina then returns to the friendly confines of Carmichael Arena on Saturday evening for a match against Virginia at 5:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 13 |Â 5Â p.m.Â
North Carolina (7-7, 4-2 ACC) vs. Virginia Tech (7-10, 1-5 ACC)
Where: Dean E. Smith CenterÂ
Admission: FREE
Watch:Â ACC Network Extra
Stats:Â UNCLiveStats.com
Saturday, Oct. 14 |Â 5:30Â p.m.Â
North Carolina (7-7, 4-2) vs. Virginia (4-13, 0-6 ACC)
Where:Â Carmichael Arena
Admission: FREE
Stats:Â UNCLiveStats.com
What You Need to Know about Friday
- Admission to volleyball and Late Night is free
- Seating will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis
- Doors open at 4 p.m.
- The first 5,000 fans will receive a mini replica of the 2017 NCAA men's basketball championship banner.
- The arena will not be cleared after the volleyball match - volleyball fans may remain in their seats for the entire eventÂ
- Public parking will be available for $10 in the Rams Head Deck (limited parking beginning at 3 p.m.). Public parking also will be available for $10 beginning at 5 p.m. in the Bowles Lot, the Manning Lot, the Craige Deck and the Jackson Deck. Disability parking will be available for $10 in the Williamson Lot, and shuttles will operate from there to Entrance A of the Smith Center beginning at 5 p.m. More information
Against the Field
Carolina has had tremendous success over the years against this weekend's opponents, going 25-6 all time against Virginia Tech and 48-14 against Virginia. The Tar Heels are riding an eight-match winning streak against VT and a 14-match winning streak against UVA.
UNC has won 25 of its 31 meetings against Virginia Tech and has not lost to the Hokies since Nov. 18, 2011. North Carolina has been nearly flawless at home, going 15-1 all time in Chapel Hill. Carolina's sole home loss came back on Oct. 26, 2006, as UNC is a perfect 9-0 at home over the past decade. UNC has not lost a set at home to VT since 2009.
The Tar Heels have not lost to Virginia since Oct. 10, 2008, having won the last 14 meetings. Carolina is 24-6 all time at home. UNC has dropped just one set to the Cavaliers over the past seven meetings going back to 2012.
Volleyball To Kick Off Late Night With Roy Men's Basketball Event
UNC's volleyball match against Virginia Tech on Friday night will be the opening event of the annual Late Night with Roy men's basketball preseason festivities. The Tar Heels will host the Hokies at the Dean E. Smith Center, home of the 2017 NCAA Champion North Carolina Men's Basketball team.Â
It is the seventh time that the volleyball team has been a part of the Late Night celebration. The Tar Heels are a perfect 6-0 before Late Night dating back to their first appearance in 2003. UNC has played a total of 35 volleyball matches at the Smith Center, including the entirety of the 2008 and 2009 home seasons while Carmichael underwent renovations. UNC also played three additional matches at the Smith Center in 2005, defeating Virginia and Virginia Tech in September but falling to the College of Charleston in the first round of the 2005 NCAA Tournament. UNC is 28-7 all time in the Dean Dome.
Carolina's Late Night matches have traditionally brought Tar Heel fans from far and wide, with official attendances of over 10,000 fans for five of the six matches. On Oct. 17, 2003, a volleyball match between UNC and Duke kicked off the first annual Late Night with Roy celebration. 16,126 Carolina fans flooded the stands, setting a new NCAA Volleyball attendance record. The mark still stands as the highest-attended regular-season NCAA Volleyball match in history. There have been eight volleyball events to top that figure since 2003, all of which were NCAA Finals or Semifinals. The highest-attended match in NCAA history was the 2015 NCAA Championship match between Texas and Nebraska, which was played in front of 17,561 fans in Omaha, Nebraska.
| Previous Volleyball Matches Prior to Late Night with Roy | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 17, 2003 | Duke | W, 3-2 | 16,126 |
| Oct. 14, 2005 | Georgia Tech | W, 3-0 | 4,435 |
| Oct. 24, 2008 | Clemson | W, 3-0 | 13,797 |
| Oct. 16, 2009 | Duke | W, 3-1 | 12,724 |
| Oct. 14, 2011 | Virginia | W, 3-0 | 10,195 |
| Oct. 25, 2013 | Maryland | W, 3-2 | 15,945 |
Tar Heels to Host Puerto Rico Hurricane Relief Event on Oct. 18
Just days after the North Carolina volleyball team returned home from the Puerto Rico Clasico in San Juan last month, the island of Puerto Rico was devastated by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. In an effort to help support the people of Puerto Rico, the Tar Heels are teaming up with fellow Clasico participant NC State to host a Hurricane Relief Drive on Wednesday, Oct. 18.Â
Fans of both teams are encouraged to bring useful items such as clothing, first-aid kits, flashlights, batteries, battery-powered fans, battery-powered radios and bug spray to the match. The Tar Heels have been in communication with one of the tournament directors, a member of the Puerto Rico National Team, who will receive the items and personally distribute them to local people in need.
Nordhorn Hitting High
Senior middle hitter Beth Nordhorn has exploded offensively this season, recording double-digit kills in nine of 14 matches, hitting .400 or higher in seven of those nine. Nordhorn has hit over .500 with double-digit kills five times, including hitting .667 with 10 kills on 15 errorless swings against Wake Forest and .615 with 10 kills on 13 swings (two errors) against LIU Brooklyn. Nordhorn is averaging 4.6 swings per set and has only made more than three errors in a match twice. The Tar Heel senior leads the ACC and ranks 12th in the nation with a .422 season hitting percentage—the only eligible conference player to hit over .400.Â
Nordhorn did not see a lot of playing time over her first 2.5 seasons, but after an injury to Sydnye Fields allowed her to start the final 11 matches of 2016, Nordhorn finished her junior year with an ACC-leading .446 season hitting percentage, while leading the conference with a .403 clip during ACC play. The next-best conference player hit .359 on the year, nearly .100 points lower than Nordhorn. She did not meet the minimum playing requirements to be ranked nationally last season, playing in just 60 percent of UNC's sets (req. 66.7%), but her .446 clip beat 2016 NCAA leader Emma Hagedom (UMKC), who finished with a .439 hitting percentage last season.
Block Party
Carolina's blocking unit has returned to form, posting double-digit blocks in the past 11 straight matches. The Tar Heels, who have ranked in the top six in the nation in blocks per set in each of the past three seasons, now average 2.67 blocks per set, which ranks third in the ACC and 26th in the nation.Â
Carolina has three individuals that are averaging at least one block per set, led by redshirt freshman Katharine Esterley. After posting a pair of double-digit blocking performances, Esterley leads the ACC and ranks 14th in the nation with 1.51 blocks per set. The redshirt freshman has the second-highest blocking average among rookies nationally. Senior Taylor Fricano ranks 10th in the conference with 1.13 blocks per set, while fellow senior Beth Nordhorn follows with 1.02 per set.Â
Carlton Records First Triple-Double Since 2005
On Oct. 6, 2017, redshirt freshman Holly Carlton posted 13 kills, 18 assists and 11 digs to become the first Tar Heel in 25 years to record multiple triple-doubles in her career. The setter/opposite hitter registered her first triple-double on Sept. 16, tallying 25 assists, 10 kills and 10 digs.
Only two Tar Heels had previously recorded a triple-double during the rally scoring era: McKenzie Byrd (11/6/2005) and Malaika Underwood (11/29/2001). Both also featured 10+ kills, assists and digs.
Amy Piestrup holds North Carolina's career record (since 1989), having posted a total of 16 triple-doubles from 1989-92, including seven in 1991 and five in 1992 en route to 1992 ACC Player of the Year honors. Teammate Joanna Sahm is the only other Tar Heel under Coach Sagula to record multiple triple-doubles, registering four in 1991. Incredibly, Piestrup and Sahm both posted triple-doubles in the same match twice, on back-to-back outings on Oct. 2 and Oct. 4, 1991. All of Piestrup and Sahm's triple-doubles have also featured double-digit kills, assists and digs.
There have been two Tar Heels to record triple-doubles featuring double-digit blocks under Sagula: Eve Rackham and Tori Seibert. Seibert tallied 18 kills, 13 digs and 10 blocks at NC State on Oct. 14, 1997, while Rackham put up 51 assists, 17 digs and 10 blocks against Duke on Oct. 15, 2000.
Tar Heel Triple-Doubles (since 1989)
- Holly Carlton vs. Duke -Â 10/6/17 - 13k, 18a, 11d
- Holly Carlton vs. Coastal Carolina - 9/16/17 - 10k, 25a, 10d
- McKenzie Byrd vs. Wake Forest - 11/6/05 - 10k, 59a, 10d
- Malaika Underwood vs. South Carolina - 11/29/01 - 12k, 11a, 10d
- Eve Rackham vs. Duke - 10/15/00 - 51a, 17d, 10b
- Tori Seibert at NC State - 10/14/97 - 18k, 13d, 10b
- Amy Piestrup - 16 times (kills, assists, digs) - 1989-92
- Joanna Sahm - 4 times (kills, assists, digs) - 1991
Borup Excels in Return
Sophomore outside hitter Taylor Borup returned to the active roster on Friday, Oct. 6, after missing eight matches with a leg injury. After just one day of practice, Borup tallied five kills, two digs and two blocks in the final three sets against Duke.
The 2016 ACC All-Freshman selection made her presence known on Sunday, Oct. 8, exploding for team-high 15 kills while hitting .429 to lead Carolina past Wake Forest, 3-2.
