Sunday, September 26
Chapel Hill
1 PM
North Carolina
11-2,0-2ACC
1
vs
3
Virginia
8-4,1-1ACC
1
2
3
4
F
Virginia
25
15
26
25
3
North Carolina
17
25
24
21
1
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Volleyball Falls To Virginia, 3-1
September 26, 2021 | Volleyball
CHAPEL HILL – The Carolina volleyball team is still looking for its first ACC win of the season after falling to Virginia on Sunday afternoon in Carmichael Arena, 3-1 (17-25, 25-15, 24-26, 21-5). The Tar Heels were held to a .180 attacking clip, one of just three matches this season where they hit below .200.
For the second game in a row, Mabrey Shaffmaster led the match with 17 kills, bringing her two-match weekend total to 33, while Emily Zinger (13) and Nia-Parker Robinson (11) rounded out the three Heels in double-digits. Meghan Neelon notched a season-best 45 assists, while Olivia Diaz recorded 14 digs in her first start of the season at libero, just one dig shy of her career-best.
Despite the Heels taking the first point of the match, it was the Cavaliers who dominated set one, with only one lead change in favor of Carolina. Virginia out-attacked the Heels .207 to .037, with UNC recording just six kills. Emily Zinger had the sole block for UNC.
In set two, Shaffmaster shined with a match-high six kills. As a team, the Heels recorded a .235 hitting percentage, its best of the match, and 15 kills, while the Cavaliers recorded seven kills and a .030 clip.
Set three included eight tie scores, five lead changes and 17 Tar Heel kills. Carolina held an early 15-12 lead, but Virginia was able to pull ahead late, sealing the set three victory with back-to-back kills.
Emily Zinger led Carolina with six kills and three blocks in the fourth set, but eight Carolina errors helped Virginia take the victory.
The Heels drop to 11-2 on the season and 0-2 in conference play.
UNC will now hit the road to Florida for two matchups, first against Miami on Oct. 1 and then at FSU on Oct. 3.
For the second game in a row, Mabrey Shaffmaster led the match with 17 kills, bringing her two-match weekend total to 33, while Emily Zinger (13) and Nia-Parker Robinson (11) rounded out the three Heels in double-digits. Meghan Neelon notched a season-best 45 assists, while Olivia Diaz recorded 14 digs in her first start of the season at libero, just one dig shy of her career-best.
Despite the Heels taking the first point of the match, it was the Cavaliers who dominated set one, with only one lead change in favor of Carolina. Virginia out-attacked the Heels .207 to .037, with UNC recording just six kills. Emily Zinger had the sole block for UNC.
In set two, Shaffmaster shined with a match-high six kills. As a team, the Heels recorded a .235 hitting percentage, its best of the match, and 15 kills, while the Cavaliers recorded seven kills and a .030 clip.
Set three included eight tie scores, five lead changes and 17 Tar Heel kills. Carolina held an early 15-12 lead, but Virginia was able to pull ahead late, sealing the set three victory with back-to-back kills.
Emily Zinger led Carolina with six kills and three blocks in the fourth set, but eight Carolina errors helped Virginia take the victory.
The Heels drop to 11-2 on the season and 0-2 in conference play.
UNC will now hit the road to Florida for two matchups, first against Miami on Oct. 1 and then at FSU on Oct. 3.
Team Stats
UVa
UNC
Kills
50
52
Errors
21
27
Attempts
139
139
Hitting %
.209
.180
Points
73.5
62
Assists
44
50
Aces
7
3
Blocks
16.5
7
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
16
Aces
2
Blocks
1
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
L/DS
/ Volleyball
S
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballRS
/ VolleyballCarolina Insider - Interview with Henri Veesaar (Full Segment) - September 8, 2025
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