Volleyball Kicks Off Late Night with Roy, Hosts No. 6 Pitt, Virginia

CHAPEL HILL – After a pair of matches in Florida, North Carolina returns home for a pair of matches against No. 6 Pitt Friday at the Smith Center and Virginia Sunday at Carmichael Arena.

Friday's match begins at 5 p.m. to kick off Late Night with Roy in the Dean Smith Center. Sunday's match against Virginia will take place in Carmichael Arena at 1 p.m. Fans can watch both matches on the ACC Network Extra or follow live stats at UNClivestats.com.

Returning from the Sunshine State, Carolina battled to take a set from both Miami and Florida State, but was unable to come away with a win. Libero Mia Fradenburg posted a season-high 22 digs in both matches.

About the Tar Heels (5-10, 1-5 ACC)

The Tar Heels earned their first conference win in come-from-behind fashion over NC State in their most recent home match. However, UNC managed to take a set from both Miami and Florida State on the road.
UNC is 7-0 in matches played prior to Late Night with Roy.
Head coach Joe Sagula is one win away from 800 career wins and four away from 600 with the Tar Heels.
Destiny Cox leads UNC with 189 kills, followed by Skylar Wine (114) and Ava Bell (117). Katharine Esterley paces the Tar Heels' block with 50. Hunter Atherton runs the offense, averaging 9.22 assists per set. With back-to-back 22 dig matches, Mia Fradenburg owns team-best 211 digs (3.84 digs per set).
Each of UNC's preseason losses were against either ranked teams or teams receiving votes in the AVCA poll.

About the No. 6 Panthers (18-0, 6-0 ACC)
As one of only two undefeated teams in the nation, No. 6 Pitt travels to North Carolina with ranked wins over No. 24 Cal-Poly and No. 12 Washington. Coming off five matches at home, the Panthers are led by two-time ACC Player of the Week Kayla Lund who ranks 40th nationally with 4.10 kills per set.

One of two undefeated teams in the nation (BYU is the other).
Leads the ACC in eight categories including hitting percentage (.311), assists (13.78) and kills (14.64)
Offense is led by Kayla Lund with 254 kills (4.10 K/S) and Nika Markovic (3.21 K/S)
Runs a 6-2 offense with Kamalani Akeo (6.94 A/S) and Kylee Levers (5.13 A/S)
2017 ACC Co-Champion, picked to repeat as ACC Champion in preseason coaches poll
Finished 2017 with a 26-7 overall record as the league's automatic NCAA qualifier. Topped VCU in the 2017 First Round of the NCAA Tournament, but fell to #1 Penn State in four sets.
Pitt leads the all-time series, 10-6. However, Carolina is 3-1 at home against Pitt while the two teams are split 3-3 in conference meetings.

About the Cavaliers (5-11, 1-5 ACC)
Earning its first conference win of the season, Virginia travels to North Carolina to wrap up the weekend's competition. The Cavaliers topped Boston College in five sets at home but fell to Syracuse on Sunday. UVA is led by Sarah Billlard who averages 3.390 kills per set to rank fourth in the ACC.

Went 2-1 at both the NIU Invitational in Dekalb, Illinois and Jefferson Cup in Charlottesville
Ranks fourth in the ACC with 12.61 digs per set, led by Kelsey Miller with 3.85 D/S.
Head coach Aaron Smith enters his second season at the helm of the Hoos and seventh on staff at UVA.
Offense is led by Sarah Billard with 242 kills (3.90 K/S)
Primary setters are Megan Wilson (8.44 A/S) and Jennifer Wineholt (5.18 A/S)
Picked 14th in the ACC preseason coaches poll.
UNC has won the past 15 straight meetings - 10 of which were sweeps. Carolina owns a 25-6 home record and a 43-13 conference record against UVA. The Tar Heels and Cavaliers have met every season since 1980.

Upcoming Milestones for Head Coach Sagula
In his 38th season, Sagula is a single win away from 800 career wins with a record of 799-454. In his 29th season at Carolina, Sagula owns a 596-331 record - four away from 600. Sagula is the sixth winningest active Division I coach (11th in all divisions) and is the 16th winningest coach of all-time by victories.

Success in the Smith Center
The Tar Heels are 7-0 when playing prior to Late Night with Roy with only two matches going to five sets. *North Carolina set the NCAA Volleyball attendance record at last season's Late Night with Roy Match.
            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
            Oct. 13, 2017 Virginia Tech   W, 3-1             19,246*

Ringing the Bell in ACC Play
Since beginning ACC play, freshman Ava Bell has been extremely efficient and effective for the Tar Heels. Bell is hitting a team-best .381 with 66 kills and 27 blocks, averaging 1.17 blocks per set in league play. The Austin, Texas native had a 20-kill performance without a single hitting error against Louisville. She followed suit with her first career double-double of 12 kills and 12 blocks. On the season, Bell leads the Tar Heels with a .271 attack percentage and comes in second in blocks with 43.

Up Next
The Tar Heels hit the road for a pair of road trips to Syracuse/Boston College and Georgia Tech/Clemson before returning home to Carmichael Arena on Nov. 2 vs. Duke and Nov. 4 vs. Wake Forest.

Stay up to date with Carolina Volleyball by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.

Volleyball Kicks Off Late Night with Roy, Hosts No. 6 Pitt, Virginia

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Players Mentioned

Hunter Atherton

Ava Bell

Destiny Cox

Katharine Esterley

Mia Fradenburg

Skylar Wine

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University of North Carolina Athletics

Volleyball Kicks Off Late Night with Roy, Hosts No. 6 Pitt, Virginia

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Hunter Atherton

Ava Bell

Destiny Cox

Katharine Esterley

Mia Fradenburg

Skylar Wine

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