Friday, September 17
Chapel Hill, N.C.
6 PM
North Carolina
vs
Charlotte
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
UNC Hosts Charlotte and Davidson, Honors Paralympic Gold Medalist Emma Schieck
September 16, 2021 | Volleyball
CHAPEL HILL – It will be an in-state battle this Friday and Saturday as the Carolina volleyball team hosts Charlotte and Davidson, two schools the Tar Heels have a combined 24-0 all-time program record against. First serve against Charlotte is on Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday the match against Davidson will start at 4 p.m.
Both matches will be streamed on ACCNX.
The Tar Heels will be honoring Tokyo 2020 Paralympic gold medalist Emma Schieck pre-match on Friday vs. the 49ers, with the help of Carolina athletic director Bubba Cummingham and Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz.
SERIES
Charlotte 49ERS (7-3)
Head Coach: Karen Weatherington
Series: UNC leads 16-0
Last time: UNC won 3-0 in Charlotte on Sep. 7, 2004
Davidson
Head Coach: Chris Willis
Series: UNC leads 8-0
Last time: UNC won 3-0 in Chapel Hill Sep. 6, 2008
Notables
» Kaya Merkler has the top hitting percentage in the ACC (.443)
» Carolina is one of just four teams in the conference that is undefeated (Louisville, Miami, Pitt)
» On Sep. 14 vs. Elon, the Heels held the Phoenix to 8 points in the third set, the first time Carolina had held a team to single digits since Sep. 25, 2015, cat Virginia Tech (25-7)
» Nia Parker-Robinson has had three straight double-digit kill games. She has had 10 or more kills in six of her first nine matches as a Tar Heel and is averaging a team-high 3.6 per set
» Mabrey Shaffmaster has a team-high nine service-aces
» Meghan Neelon sits at career 2,478 assists
» Carly Peck and Skyy Howard's hometown is Charlotte
The Davidson Connection
Carolina volunteer assistant coach Phoebe Havenaar, who is in her first season with the Tar Heels, spent last season as an assistant with the Wildcats. There, she helped the staff with offensive and defensive strategy, focusing on the middle blocker position.
About our Honoree: Emma Schieck
Emma Schieck is a UNC junior and a Tokyo 2020 Paralympic gold medalist in sitting volleyball. Volleyball has been a consistent part of her life since she was seven, but she started playing sitting volleyball and attending training camps with the national team in 2017.
Schieck, who is from Statesville, N.C., a city about 40 miles outside of Charlotte, played standing volleyball for South Iredell High School, and was teammates with current Tar Heel freshman Marissa Meyerhoefer. A talented athlete on the court in high school, she was able to make the transition into the sport of sitting volleyball
Schieck, who plays outside hitter, made her Paralympic debut in Tokyo and was one of the youngest members of the 12-woman roster. She delivered the ace that sealed the 3-1 victory over China to clinch the gold medal for Team USA on Sep. 4.
"Winning gold was the most surreal thing I've ever felt," she said. "I've never felt so much excitement and relief. I really couldn't believe what happened."
The Carolina volleyball coaches and student-athletes followed her journey throughout Tokyo, rooting her on from back home. The team is excited to celebrate her on Friday night.
"Being recognized by UNC volleyball is really cool because I've followed the team since I was little," she said. "I think it is so great to see the standing and sitting volleyball worlds collide.
A passionate advocate for the Paralympic games, Schieck is looking forward to training for the next games and growing the sport of sitting volleyball.
Both matches will be streamed on ACCNX.
The Tar Heels will be honoring Tokyo 2020 Paralympic gold medalist Emma Schieck pre-match on Friday vs. the 49ers, with the help of Carolina athletic director Bubba Cummingham and Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz.
SERIES
Charlotte 49ERS (7-3)
Head Coach: Karen Weatherington
Series: UNC leads 16-0
Last time: UNC won 3-0 in Charlotte on Sep. 7, 2004
Davidson
Head Coach: Chris Willis
Series: UNC leads 8-0
Last time: UNC won 3-0 in Chapel Hill Sep. 6, 2008
Notables
» Kaya Merkler has the top hitting percentage in the ACC (.443)
» Carolina is one of just four teams in the conference that is undefeated (Louisville, Miami, Pitt)
» On Sep. 14 vs. Elon, the Heels held the Phoenix to 8 points in the third set, the first time Carolina had held a team to single digits since Sep. 25, 2015, cat Virginia Tech (25-7)
» Nia Parker-Robinson has had three straight double-digit kill games. She has had 10 or more kills in six of her first nine matches as a Tar Heel and is averaging a team-high 3.6 per set
» Mabrey Shaffmaster has a team-high nine service-aces
» Meghan Neelon sits at career 2,478 assists
» Carly Peck and Skyy Howard's hometown is Charlotte
The Davidson Connection
Carolina volunteer assistant coach Phoebe Havenaar, who is in her first season with the Tar Heels, spent last season as an assistant with the Wildcats. There, she helped the staff with offensive and defensive strategy, focusing on the middle blocker position.
About our Honoree: Emma Schieck
Emma Schieck is a UNC junior and a Tokyo 2020 Paralympic gold medalist in sitting volleyball. Volleyball has been a consistent part of her life since she was seven, but she started playing sitting volleyball and attending training camps with the national team in 2017.
Schieck, who is from Statesville, N.C., a city about 40 miles outside of Charlotte, played standing volleyball for South Iredell High School, and was teammates with current Tar Heel freshman Marissa Meyerhoefer. A talented athlete on the court in high school, she was able to make the transition into the sport of sitting volleyball
Schieck, who plays outside hitter, made her Paralympic debut in Tokyo and was one of the youngest members of the 12-woman roster. She delivered the ace that sealed the 3-1 victory over China to clinch the gold medal for Team USA on Sep. 4.
"Winning gold was the most surreal thing I've ever felt," she said. "I've never felt so much excitement and relief. I really couldn't believe what happened."
The Carolina volleyball coaches and student-athletes followed her journey throughout Tokyo, rooting her on from back home. The team is excited to celebrate her on Friday night.
"Being recognized by UNC volleyball is really cool because I've followed the team since I was little," she said. "I think it is so great to see the standing and sitting volleyball worlds collide.
A passionate advocate for the Paralympic games, Schieck is looking forward to training for the next games and growing the sport of sitting volleyball.
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Volleyball
MH/OH
/ Volleyball
L/DS
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
OH/RS
/ Volleyball
OH
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