No. 25 Volleyball Sweeps Clemson, 3-0

Friday, October 2

Chapel Hill, N.C.

7:00 PM

North Carolina

8-3,3-0ACC

Clemson

6-9,0-3ACC

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Clemson	15	20	14	0
North Carolina	25	25	25	3

Match Notes

Photo by: DALTON WAINSCOTT

October 2, 2026 | Volleyball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Megan Smith

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — No. 25 Carolina (8-3, 3-0 ACC) volleyball swept Clemson (6-9, 0-3 ACC), 3-0 (25-15, 25-20, 25-14), Friday night in Carmichael Arena to bring its winning streak to four straight games. The Tar Heels celebrated "Dig Pink" night by sporting pink arm sleeves and hair ties, raising awareness for breast cancer and celebrating those affected.

Sixteen Tar Heels saw the court in UNC's third 3-0 win of the season.

Hailey Pearce took over the match. The senior rightside hitter tied a match-high kill count with 10, doing so only on 14 attempts. Malone did not participate in action against the Tigers after suffering a foot injury in UNC's five-set victory at Wake Forest last Sunday.

Just like Pearce, UNC was efficient and effective. Carolina hit .393, as nine players registered at least one kill.

Freshman outside Addison West matched Pearce with 10 kills. Lauren Schutter, a graduate middle blocker, tied her career high with six kills on the night and added three blocks. Junior Laynie Smith also swung home six attacks — but from the right pin — and tallied four of her own blocks out of UNC's 10 total.

"[I was] literally just thinking about nothing," Smith said, "just playing free, and just trying to grab every ball."

A combined effort between setters Zoe Behrendt, Sienna Cozza and Emily Bobbitt helped on those kills. They accumulated 31 assists in the match.

Junior Julia Bohlinger wore the sleeveless Carolina blue libero jersey while surrounded by her teammates in white. She picked up four digs and six assists.

"Usually, if we're keeping balls alive, we will eventually kill it," head coach Mike Schall said. "That's what we want to do. I was particularly pleased with the defensive effort, and not just keeping balls alive, but being able to convert off of it."

Carolina jumped out of the gate to a quick 5-0 lead over Clemson. Early success was led by graduate opposite hitter Chelsea Thorpe, who converted on three swings without error. The Tar Heels' blocking front of Schutter, Smith, Safi Hampton and Jackie Taylor made it difficult for the Tigers to find an offensive footing. Those four pin players combined for five blocks through the opening set.

Smiles were contagious as Cozza and first-year defense specialist Carly Markham made rally-saving plays in the backcourt, causing a second Clemson timeout as UNC advanced to an 18-9 advantage.

The Tar Heels appeared cool, calm and collected over their ACC foe. They took an 11-point lead at 24-13. Then, Pearce delivered the set-clinching kill that traveled deep to Clemson's side, ricocheting off a defender's platform into section 112.

Even though the Tigers had 10 more attacking attempts, the Tar Heels made the most of their 37 tries, hitting .444. UNC dominantly won the first set, 25-15.

The smiling faces were still on the home side of the court, but UNC didn't maintain its commanding presence on the floor to start the next frame. Clemson took its first lead of the match at 2-1 and kept it challenging for Carolina to pull ahead throughout the majority of the set.

However, Schutter repeatedly made the right play, slamming the ball down on offense and stuffing opposing overpasses on defense. After back-to-back kills by the Kansas native, the Tigers elected to talk it over, finding themselves down 18-15.

UNC put together two straight blocks, but followed its stellar play at the net with mistakes at various spots on the court. It was Carolina's turn to take a timeout with a slight 21-20 lead.

Schall set his team straight. The Tar Heels won the final four points of the frame, partially thanks to Taylor and Pearce, who garnered another duo of stuffs. UNC emerged on top of the second set, 25-20, but the Tigers earned their stripes and didn't make it comfortable for their northern neighbors.

Pearce started the third set for Carolina in mighty fashion with three kills. Jumping out of the gym, Addison West added three of her own early on, too.

At 7-4, Markham called out "Donut! Donut!" and West daintily tipped just over the block for a point. That marked the beginning stages of a seven-point UNC tear with Markham behind the service line.

Once Clemson scored another point, it was too late already. The Tar Heels never let their edge drop below six points en route to their 10th straight defeat over Clemson at home. On match point, Cozza delivered a speedy serve that made the Tigers send over an easy free ball. Cozza set the outside to West, where the ball landed again in that "donut" center of the court.

Carolina confidently captured set three, 25-14, sweeping Clemson.

The win marked the third year in a row UNC started 3-0 in ACC play. The Tar Heels will remain in Chapel Hill for their next game on Sunday against Georgia Tech at 1:30 p.m., looking to extend their victory streak to five matches.