Carolina Defeats SMU 3-1, Wins SMU DoubleTree Invitational

Saturday, August 28

University Park, Texas

2 PM

North Carolina

2-0,0-0ACC

SMU

2-1,0-0AAC

North Carolina

SMU

August 28, 2021 | Volleyball

Box Score Photo Gallery

UNIVERSITY PARK, TEXAS – Highlighted by 17 kills from freshman Mabrey Shaffmaster, Carolina defeated SMU 3-1 on Saturday afternoon in the final match of the SMU Doubletree Invitational. The Tar Heels finished the tournament in the Lonestar State undefeated, going 3-0 on the weekend with wins over Pacific and Stephen F. Austin.

The Heels, who went down in a hard-fought first set 29-27 to the Mustangs, dominated the rest of the match, sweeping the next three to clinch the match. As a team, the Heels attacked at a .299 clip, with Kaya Merkler's team-best .467 and eight kills leading Carolina. Defensively, the team recorded 22 blocks against SMU, with Merkler, who had 7 blocks and Emily Zinger who had a team-high 9, both setting new career records.

In the tournament, Carolina's newcomers shined, with five cracking the starting lineup.

Shaffmaster, who was named the tournament MVP, finished her collegiate debut weekend with a three-game total of 38 kills, averaging 3.45 a set, with two service aces and seven assists.

Meghan Neelon, a graduate transfer from Alabama, split time with Annabelle Archer as the main setter for Carolina, racking up a team-high 64 assists. Graduate transfers Nia Parker-Robinson and Zinger also made an immediate impact. Zinger recorded 12 block assists on the weekend, while Parker-Robinson tallied 30 kills.

SMU Doubletree Invitational Tournament Team:
Mabrey Shaffmaster – Tournament MVP
Karenna Wurl – Tournament Best Libero
Kaya Merkler – All-Tournament
Emily Zinger – All-Tournament

UP NEXT:
The Heels return to Chapel Hill where they will host Colorado State, Wofford and East Carolina on Sep 3-4.

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