2021 Volleyball Roster
Jersey Number 14
Kaya Merkler
- Position:
- MH/OH
- Height:
- 6-3
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Hometown:
- Chapel Hill, N.C.
- High School:
- Chapel Hill
Bio
Major:Â Master of Public HealthÂ
Career Highs
Kills:Â 16Â at Syracuse (3/5/21)
Blocks: 9 vs. Clemson (10/30/22)
Block solos: 2 (Six times)
Block assists: 8Â vs. Clemson (10/30/22)
Attacks: 43 at Syracuse (3/5/21)
Service aces: 4 vs. South Carolina (9/2/22)
Digs: 10Â at Syracuse (3/5/21)
Cumulative Career Statistics:
Total blocks: 294
Block assists: 256
Block solos: 38
Kills: 676
Digs: 152
Service aces: 42
Accolades:
AS A SENIOR (2023):
AS A JUNIORÂ (2022):
AS A SOPHOMORE (2021):
AS A FRESHMAN (2020-21):
MAJOR:
PREP:
INTERNATIONAL:
PERSONAL:
Career Highs
Kills:Â 16Â at Syracuse (3/5/21)
Blocks: 9 vs. Clemson (10/30/22)
Block solos: 2 (Six times)
Block assists: 8Â vs. Clemson (10/30/22)
Attacks: 43 at Syracuse (3/5/21)
Service aces: 4 vs. South Carolina (9/2/22)
Digs: 10Â at Syracuse (3/5/21)
Cumulative Career Statistics:
Total blocks: 294
Block assists: 256
Block solos: 38
Kills: 676
Digs: 152
Service aces: 42
Accolades:
- 2022Â All-ACC Academic team
- 2021Â All-ACC Second team
- 2021 East Coast All-Region Honorable Mention
- 2020-21Â ACC All-Freshman team
- ACC Player of the Week (Oct. 19, 2021)
AS A SENIOR (2023):
- Played in 15 matches, making 12 starts and 45 set appearances
- Had a season-high six blocks in the Tar Heels' three-set victory over West Virginia (8/31/23)
- Tallied 47 kills, 29 blocks, four block solos, four service aces and 16 digs on the season
AS A JUNIORÂ (2022):
- Only Tar Heel to start all 29 matches and play in all 108 sets
- Led the team with 116 blocks, tallying 13 block solos and 103 block assists, averaging 1.07 blocks per set
- Recorded 245 kills, the third-most on the team, 52 digs, 21 service aces and 12 assists
- Set a new career-best of nine blocks in four-set victory over Clemson (10/30/22)
- Set a new career-best of four service aces in three-set victory over South Carolina (9/2/22)
- Had a season-high 13 kills vs. Florida State (10/2/22)
- Tallied double-digit kills in 12 matches
- 2022Â All-ACC Academic team
AS A SOPHOMORE (2021):
- Started 28 games, making 102 set appearances
- Led Carolina in hitting percentage (.350), total blocks (97), block solos (19) block assists (78) and blocks per set (.95)
- Had sixth-highest hitting percentage in the ACC
- Tallied 238 kills, the third-most on the team, averaging 2.33 kills per set
- Named ACC Player of the Week on Oct. 19, the first weekly honor of her career
- Had seven matches with double-digit killsÂ
- Matched career-best of seven blocks twice: vs. Duke (10/22/21) and at SMU (8/28/21)
- Recorded the match points in victories over NC State (10/20/21) and Duke (10/22/21)
- Named to the SMU Invitational All-Tournament Team
AS A FRESHMAN (2020-21):
- Appeared in all 18 matches, making 11 starts, and appearing in all 71 sets
- Had a team-best 146 total kills, averaging 2.06/set, and tied for a team-best 52 total blocks
- Had five matches with double-digit kills
- Recorded a career-best of 16 kills and 10 digs at Virginia Tech (3/5/21)
- Tallied seven blocks at Virginia Tech (9/24/20)
- Had 45 digs and four service aces on the season
- Enrolled at UNC in the spring semester, graduating from high school early
- UNC Strength & Conditioning 'Newcomer of the Year' honoree
MAJOR:
- Graduated in May 2023 with a degree in psychology
PREP:
- A four-year letter winner at Chapel Hill High School
- 2019 NCHSAA High School 3A State Championship MVP, leading Chapel Hill High School to the state championship
- Earned AVCA Under Armour All-American honorable mention and AVCA high school all-region honors as a senior
- Two-time all-state selection
- Led the Tigers to a runner-up finish at the North Carolina State 3A Championship Game as a freshman and sophomore
- Finished her junior season at the 3A east regional championship
- Three-time Big 8 conference selection
- Named to the Prep Volleyball NC all-state first team in 2017 and earned all-American special mention honors as a junior and high honorable mention honors in 2018
- Totaled 1421 kills with a .355 attack percentage, 755 digs and 196 total blocks in high school career
- Played club volleyball at the Triangle Volleyball Club, earning Prep Volleyball honors each year
- Named to the JVA All-National Team and VolleyballMag.com Girls 25 Underclassmen watch list in 2019
INTERNATIONAL:
- Competed with the USA Volleyball High Performance Pipeline
- Attended USAV High Performance Future Select A1 National Training Program in 2014 and 2015
- Helped the Red National Training Team to a bronze medal in the Girls' International Youth Division at the USAV High Performance Championships in 2016
- Earned a bronze medal in the Women's International Junior Division in 2017
- Competed on the USAV High Performance Youth National Training Team in 2018
PERSONAL:
- Born May 4 in Chapel Hill
- Daughter of Kristopher and Elif Merkler
- Has a younger sister, Suna
- Father, Kristopher, played ice hockey at Yale
- Mother, Elif, played volleyball at Yale
Henri Veesaar Intro Press Conference
Wednesday, September 10
MBB: Henri Veesaar Intro Press Conference
Wednesday, September 10
Kyan Evans Intro Press Conference
Wednesday, September 10
MBB: Kyan Evans Intro Press Conference
Wednesday, September 10
