Volleyball Tops High Point In Preseason Exhibition

Saturday, August 20

Chapel Hill

1 p.m.

North Carolina

0-0,0-0ACC

High Point (Exhibition)

0-0,0-0Big South

High Point

North Carolina

Photo by: ANTHONY SORBELLINI

August 20, 2022 | Volleyball

Box Score

CHAPEL HILL – Led by 21 kills from Mabrey Shaffmaster, the Carolina volleyball team secured a five-set exhibition victory over High Point on Saturday afternoon in Carmichael Arena.

Charley Niego was the second Tar Heel with double-digit kills, tallying 12 to go with 12 digs, two blocks and an ace. Anita Babic fed the offense with 30 assists, while Kaya Merkler led the team with six blocks. Karenna Wurl and Maddy May split time at libero, each tallying 14 digs.

Set One – Carolina: 25, High Point: 15
The Tar Heels opened the match hot, outhitting the Panthers .382-.294, Carolina's best attacking percentage of the match. Shaffmaster had a team-best six kills in the set, while freshman Anita Babic combined for 14 assists, three digs and three service aces.

Set Two – Carolina: 17, High Point: 25
The Tar Heel offense struggled in the second set, hitting just .100 with eight attacking errors. At the net, Skyy Howard led the frame with three block assists and tied Niego with a squad-best three kills. With the set tied at 12 all, the Panthers took control, going on a 13-5 run to end the set and even up the match at one all.

Set Three – Carolina: 22, High Point: 25
In the third set, Shaffmaster led with five kills, while Babic dished out 11 assists. With 13 tie scores and four lead changes in the set, neither team was able to hold onto the lead until an 8-2 run from the Panthers to end the frame put High Point up 2-1.

Set Four – Carolina: 25, High Point: 17
The Tar Heels were able to even up the match in the fourth set, led by five kills from Shaffmaster. The Panthers also committed nine attacking errors to Carolina's three. Maddy May had two aces while Kaya Merkler tallied two block assists in the set.

Set Five – Carolina: 15, High Point: 11
The Tar Heels were able to take the preseason exhibition win behind a balanced offensive attack in the fifth set, with Shaffmaster, Merkler, Niego, Sadie Swift and Liv Mogridge combining for 10 kills. Carolina also had three service aces, one from each Ella Bostic, Carson Overbeck and Niego.

Up next, the Tar Heels will officially kick off the 2022 regular season on Aug. 26 against Colorado State in Fort Collins.

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