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University of North Carolina Athletics
No. 9 UNC Volleyball Faces ACC Split Weekend
October 22, 2014 | Volleyball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Tar Heels will put their historic No. 9 ranking on the line as they face another ACC split-weekend. Carolina will host Boston College on Friday at 6 p.m. in Carmichael Arena, before traveling south to face Georgia Tech in O'Keefe Gymnasium Sunday at 1 p.m.
North Carolina is coming off two sweeps over local foes. On Friday, UNC swept the NC State Wolfpack 3-0 in Reynolds Gymnasium. Leigh Andrew poured in 13 kills, while Chaniel Nelson added 10 kills.
Carolina turned around and swept No. 21 Duke on ESPNU. The win was UNC's first sweep over Duke since 2008, and broke Duke's 10-match win streak and handed the Blue Devils their first loss at home in 2014. Nelson paced the offense with 13 kills, while Jordyn Schnabl added her first double-double of the year with 17 assists and 14 digs.
After the strong showing, North Carolina earned the No. 9 ranking in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll, the highest standing in program history. The Tar Heels also moved up one spot in the NCAA RPI to No. 6.
PREVIEWING THE BOSTON COLLEGE EAGLES
Boston College enters Friday's match after a dramatic 1-1 weekend for the Eagles. BC hosted Wake Forest on Friday during Homecoming weekend and defeated the Demon Deacons 3-1 behind 20.0 total team blocks.
The Eagles then fell to Notre Dame on the road, 3-2, after winning the first two sets of the match. Katy Workman had 15 kills and 12 digs in the match for BC.
Workman is the centerpiece of the Eagle's offense, knocking down 3.69 kills/set and 2.57 digs/set. Workman is currently No. 3 all-time in double-doubles at BC with 30. BC also looks to Julia Topor to stuff the stat sheet as she is good for 2.82 kills/set, 1.43 digs/set and .62 blocks/set.
Head Coach Chris Campbell is in his fifth year with Boston College and has guided the Eagles to an 8-10 overall total, with a 3-4 ACC record. The Eagles took then-No. 18 Minnesota to five sets and have defeated Yale, Louisville, and Wake Forest so far this season.
UNC is 16-0 all-time against Boston College after sweeping the Eagles 3-0 last year in Power Gym. The Tar Heels will face the Eagles this Friday in Carmichael Arena at 6 p.m. for UNC volleyball's annual Pink Match. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to show support and raise awareness for breast cancer. T-shirts and other items will be sold and signed pink jerseys will be raffled off to fans, and all proceeds will go to the Get REAL & HEEL program.
PREVIEWING THE GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS
Georgia Tech is 9-12 in 2014 and 2-6 so far in the ACC. The record is deceiving as the Yellow Jackets are a tough team, especially at home. Tech is 5-3 on the year at home and has defeat Southern Mississippi, Wake Forest, and North Carolina State so far in the confines of O'Keefe Gymnasium.
Leading the charge for the Yellow Jackets is outside hitter Teegan Van Gunst, who is smashing 3.49 kills/set on a .234 hitting percentage so far this season. Her twin sister Annika is a middle blocker for Georgia Tech who is knocking down 2.87 kills/set and adds 2.05 digs/set.
Head Coach Michelle Collier is in her first year with Georgia Tech, after guiding Jacksonville to a 30-4 record and an NCAA tournament berth in 2013. Collier was a stand-out collegiate player herself, ranking No. 5 all-time in Division I with 2,729 career kills at USF.
UNC is 33-24 all-time against Georgia Tech after defeating the Yellow Jackets 3-0 last year in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels will face Georgia Tech this Sunday at 1 p.m. in O'Keefe Gymnasium.
