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University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Three Tar Heels Earn AVCA All-Region Honors
December 7, 2021 | Volleyball
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Three Tar Heels have earned All-East Coast Region honors, as announced on Tuesday by the AVCA. Mabrey Shaffmaster was named the East Coast Region Freshman of the Year, while Nia Parker-Robinson was named AVCA All-East Coast Region. Kaya Merkler and Shaffmaster earned East Coast All-Region Honorable Mention honors.
Shaffmaster, from New Castle, Ind., led all ACC freshmen in kills this season, tallying 389 on the season. The 6-foot-1 outside hitter finished the 2021 season with 250 digs, 32 blocks and 30 service aces. She appeared in all but one of Carolina's 110 sets, averaging 4 points and 3.57 kills per set. Earlier this month, she was named the ACC Freshman of the Year and All-ACC Second Team.
Shaffmaster becomes the third Tar Heel in program history to be named the East Coach Region Freshman of the Year and the first since 2016. All three of Carolina's recipients, Paige Neuenfeldt (2012), Julia Scoles (2016) and Shaffmaster (2021), were also ACC Freshman of Year.
Nia Parker-Robinson, from Indianapolis, Ind., earned All-ACC second team honors this season. She led Carolina in kills (405), kills per set (3.79) and was tied with Shaffmaster for most points per set (4). Parker-Robinson earns the first Tar Heel All-Region honor since Beth Nordham in 2017.
Kaya Merkler, from Chapel Hill, N.C., was named to the All-ACC second team. She finished the season with a team-best .350 hitting percentage, a team-best 97 total blocks, 238 kills, 13 service aces and 39 digs.
Carolina ended the season 21-9 (10-8 ACC), making the program's first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2016.
Shaffmaster, from New Castle, Ind., led all ACC freshmen in kills this season, tallying 389 on the season. The 6-foot-1 outside hitter finished the 2021 season with 250 digs, 32 blocks and 30 service aces. She appeared in all but one of Carolina's 110 sets, averaging 4 points and 3.57 kills per set. Earlier this month, she was named the ACC Freshman of the Year and All-ACC Second Team.
Shaffmaster becomes the third Tar Heel in program history to be named the East Coach Region Freshman of the Year and the first since 2016. All three of Carolina's recipients, Paige Neuenfeldt (2012), Julia Scoles (2016) and Shaffmaster (2021), were also ACC Freshman of Year.
Nia Parker-Robinson, from Indianapolis, Ind., earned All-ACC second team honors this season. She led Carolina in kills (405), kills per set (3.79) and was tied with Shaffmaster for most points per set (4). Parker-Robinson earns the first Tar Heel All-Region honor since Beth Nordham in 2017.
Kaya Merkler, from Chapel Hill, N.C., was named to the All-ACC second team. She finished the season with a team-best .350 hitting percentage, a team-best 97 total blocks, 238 kills, 13 service aces and 39 digs.
Carolina ended the season 21-9 (10-8 ACC), making the program's first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2016.
Players Mentioned
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