UNC volleyball rode a season high in blocks and a clean game to victory over N.C. State on Friday night, winning 3-1 against the Wolfpack.
N.C. State fans packed the Reynolds Coliseum stands on Friday night to watch both programs’ ACC openers, the venue’s first sell-out for a volleyball game. The crowd was treated to a dramatic and tight opening set, with both teams going back and forth. Carolina built the largest lead of five points before N.C. State clawed back to get into the 20s. Tied at 25 apiece, the Tar Heels pipped an advantage by a key block by junior Jackie Taylor and managed to pull ahead by two at 28-26 to take the first set.
Carolina committed only three errors in the first frame compared to N.C. State’s eight — the biggest margin between the two teams in all four sets, but reflective of how errors would impact the rest of the game. Despite the Wolfpack earning more kills than the Tar Heels in the first three sets, mis-hits and mistakes granted UNC points.
PACK 'EM UP.#GoHeels | @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/bA81PJmC0t
— Carolina Volleyball (@UNCVolleyball) September 26, 2026
And while the Heels had plenty of their own kills, the defense set the tone. Taylor contributed to 10 of UNC’s 15 blocks — with three to help open the second set, where Carolina stretched its lead to an eight-point cushion at different times before winning 25-20.
N.C. State took a tight third set, 25-23, but the Tar Heels quickly built an advantage in the fourth. Safi Hampton hit four consecutive kills, causing the Wolfpack to call a timeout down 6-1. The break helped the home team get closer, but Carolina then turned a 14-11 score into 23-13 — and quickly finished off the set 25-16 to win. Hampton finished as the team leader in kills with a match-high 16 and marked the first double-double of her senior year with 13 digs.
Friday’s result moves head coach Mike Schall’s Tar Heels to 6-3 on the season and winners of the last two matchups against the Wolfpack. It also marks the third consecutive season under Schall with a 1-0 start in conference play. His program’s in-state road trip continues on Sunday, as UNC will head to Wake Forest for a match starting at 4 p.m.
Featured image via Dalton Wainscott/UNC Athletics Communications.
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