GoHeels Exclusive: Buckner Makes Name for Herself on the Court

By Hallie Phillips

Graduate high school, move across the country to a college you've never visited, and play Division I volleyball all while moving away from your family during a global pandemic. Aziah Buckner accomplished all of this in the past six months.

"It was definitely rough for me at first," Buckner, Carolina's freshman outside hitter, said.

The transition to college for anyone, student-athlete or not, is always an adventure. For Buckner, it was an absolute whirlwind. A coaching change at the previous school she was committed to sparked Buckner to reopen her recruiting in the spring of her senior year.

"One thing led to another," head coach Joe Sagula said, "and next thing you know by May, she was making plans to take summer school classes with the rest of our incoming freshman."

Sophomore middle blocker Skyy Howard may have helped encourage Buckner to commit to Carolina, since the pair are cousins and grew up together in Dallas. Coming from an athletic family, Buckner was used to living in a busy house with four younger siblings. Her mom is a yoga instructor and her dad played collegiate basketball at Clemson, and now works in the NBA.

"So, the leap of faith was a good one," Sagula said. "Something that really felt secure for her, and especially good knowing Skyy Howard was here."

Buckner has played a significant role in her freshman campaign at Carolina. The 5-11 outside hitter has played in every match with 61 kills and 35 digs through six matches.

"I really like to play," Buckner said. "It's one of my favorite things to do so if there's anything I can do to play, I'll try it."

Buckner was initially a three-rotation player for the Tar Heels and only played front row. Sagula recognized her skilled first touch when passing the ball and that allowed her role to be expanded. She has quickly grown to be an effective six-rotation player alongside returning veteran hitters who helped Carolina in 2019 to its first winning season in three years.

"She comes from athletic coaches," Sagula said. "She had a good grasp of sports and how to be a good teammate. She was a leader for her high school team, winning a state championship. So, she has a lot of good intangibles that you want from a coach's perspective."

One of the most memorable experiences for any student-athlete at Carolina might just have to be when they first face THE rivalry with Duke. For Buckner, this match-up was no different.

"I feel like that's one of the games you really have to show up," Buckner said. "That first match was really fun actually, it felt like the ball would never touch the ground. It was definitely hard to get a kill, but when you did it was such a great feeling."

Buckner shined for Carolina as one of three Tar Heels with double-digit kills in the first match of the season against the Blue Devils. The freshman recorder her first double-double with 12 kills and 10 digs in UNC's 3-1 win.

Despite dropping the second match to Duke, Carolina swept NC State the following weekend with a 3-0 and 3-1 win against the Wolfpack. So far, Buckner's favorite moment with Carolina Volleyball was their Sunday match-up against NC State.

"After we won," Buckner said, "we were all so exhausted; but, happy that we won because the coaches were feeling like we couldn't win on a Sunday. When we did everybody was super happy and the feeling was just really nice as a team because we finally proved them wrong—and we did it together, almost everybody played."

Up next, Buckner and the Tar Heels look to improve their 4-2 record this fall against Virginia Saturday and Sunday in Carmichael Arena.

Due to COVID-19 considerations, Carolina will play the second half of the ACC schedule in the spring. The NCAA Tournament will consist of only a 48-team pool instead of 64 teams with the selection show scheduled for April 4 and the championship weekend April 23-25.

"I really think we can do some damage," Buckner said about her expectations for the team.

This fall, Buckner has handled the universal hardships that have come with a global pandemic, while seamlessly transitioning into the Carolina volleyball program with great potential for years to come.

"Aziah connects well with everyone," Sagula said. "This has been a great opportunity for her. She probably didn't anticipate being at Carolina, but it's been a great positive for both of us. I think she's going to be a really great Tar Heel within our program."

GoHeels Exclusive: Buckner Makes Name for Herself on the Court

Players Mentioned

Aziah Buckner

Skyy Howard

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