Friday, December 3
Columbus, Ohio
5 P.M. EST
North Carolina
vs
Tennessee
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Carolina Volleyball Faces Tennessee in First Round of the NCAA Tournament
December 2, 2021 | Volleyball
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Carolina volleyball team opens postseason play on Friday against Tennessee in the first round of the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament. The match will air on ESPN+ at 5 p.m.
The Tar Heels are making their 19th NCAA Tournament appearance, the first since 2016, and 14th under coach Joe Sagula.
How to Watch: The matchup will be streamed through ESPN+. This is a subscription-based service. Click here to register a new account.
The Series:
With a win against Tennessee, the Tar Heels would advance to face either Howard or host Ohio State on Saturday at 6 p.m. in the second round.
Stay up to date with Carolina Volleyball by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.
The Tar Heels are making their 19th NCAA Tournament appearance, the first since 2016, and 14th under coach Joe Sagula.
How to Watch: The matchup will be streamed through ESPN+. This is a subscription-based service. Click here to register a new account.
The Series:
- Tennessee (19-9, 11-7 SEC) leads the all-time series 9-5 over the Tar Heels (21-8, 10-8 ACC)
- The last meeting between the two schools was Sep. 11, 2009, in Chapel Hill, when the Tar Heels secured a five-set victory over the Volunteers
- Tennessee head coach Eve Rackham Watt is a UNC graduate who played for coach Sagula from 1999-2002
- Rackham Watt is UNC's assist per set career leader (12.58), No. 2 in career assists (5,700) and No. 7 in career digs (1,305)
- Rackham Watt also served as an assistant and assistant head coach for Carolina from 2009-2018
- Rackham Watt was with the Tar Heels when they made their last NCAA Tournament appearance in 2016
- Carolina has advanced past the first round in four of their last five NCAA Tournament appearances, going to the Elite 8 in 2015 and Sweet 16 in 2016
- Senior Amanda Phegley, a transfer from Penn State, is the only Tar Heel on the current roster who has played in the NCAA Tournament (2018, 2019)
- Mabrey Shaffmaster became the program's fifth ACC Freshman of the Year on Monday. She was also named to the ACC All-Freshman team and All-ACC Second Team
- Kaya Merkler and Nia Parker-Robinson were also named to the All-ACC Second Team
- Shaffmaster finished the season with the most kills of any ACC freshman (371). She currently ranks third on UNC's all-time freshman lists for kills and kills-per-set average.
- Libero Karenna Wurl finished the season averaging the most digs per set in ACC play in the conference (4.35) and No. 3 in the ACC on the season
- Merkler (.365) and Phelgey (.336) finished the season ranked No. 6 and No. 7 in the ACC in hitting percentage in conference play
- Parker-Robinson (3.84) and Shaffmaster (3.81) finished ranked No. 6 and No. 7 in kills per set on the season in the ACC
- Carolina is 9-4 this season when playing on Friday
With a win against Tennessee, the Tar Heels would advance to face either Howard or host Ohio State on Saturday at 6 p.m. in the second round.
Stay up to date with Carolina Volleyball by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
MH/OH
/ Volleyball
MH/RS
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
L/DS
/ VolleyballUNC Football: Belichick Gets First Win as Heels Down Charlotte, 20-3
Sunday, September 07
Carolina Insider - Football at Charlotte Preview (Full Segment) - September 5, 2025
Saturday, September 06
Bill Belichick Coach's Corner - Episode 2 - Sep. 3, 2025
Saturday, September 06
UNC Men's Soccer: Tar Heels Secures Hard-Earned Draw at #5 NC State
Saturday, September 06