University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Volleyball Announces 2026 Non-Conference Slate
May 18, 2026 | Volleyball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Fresh off back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, Carolina volleyball head coach Mike Schall announced the 2026 non-conference slate on Monday morning.
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The Tar Heels will open the season with a trip to Davidson on Aug. 29. Carolina is 9-0 all time against the Wildcats having swept the last seven matches dating back to 1995. This will be the first time the two North Carolina schools have faced off since 2021 and the first trip to Davidson since 2003.
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The next day is the home opener against UNCW. The match kicks off a three match homestand. This will be the first time since 2015 that the Tar Heels face the Seahawks. They're 5-1 all time against UNCW including 3-1 in Chapel Hill.
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JMU is next up on Sept. 3. The Dukes come to Chapel Hill for the first time since 2013. The Tar Heels hold a 6-0 record against JMU.
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The following day Carolina welcomes Colorado State to Carmichael Arena. The two squads haven't faced off since 2022. UNC is looking for its second ever win against the Rams, holding a 1-4 record all time.
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After that, the Tar Heels head to Kentucky to take on the reigning national runner-up Kentucky on Sept. 9 for the ACC-SEC Showdown at the Net. Kentucky finished the season ranked No. 3 in RPI and won the SEC Tournament and then advanced all the way to the National Championship Match before falling to Texas A&M. UNC comes into the match with a 6-11 record against the Wildcats, winning its last matchup in 2014.
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Carolina will then square off with another SEC foe, this time heading to the Big Apple to take on Vanderbilt in a neutral site matchup on Sept. 13 at Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan. This will be the first ever matchup between the two teams.
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The non-conference slate doesn't let up as the Tar Heels then travel to Lincoln, Neb. to take on Nebraska on Sept. 18. The Cornhuskers had an undefeated regular season and ended the year at No. 1 in RPI. UNC is 1-1 all time against Nebraska, winning its most recent matchup in 1996. Carolina is 0-1 all time at Nebraska. The following day the Tar Heels will play FGCU in a neutral site match to wrap up the non-conference season. This will be the first time the two teams have played each other.
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Carolina will look to make the NCAA tournament in three straight seasons for the first time since 2010-16 when they made seven consecutive trips.
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The Tar Heels will open the season with a trip to Davidson on Aug. 29. Carolina is 9-0 all time against the Wildcats having swept the last seven matches dating back to 1995. This will be the first time the two North Carolina schools have faced off since 2021 and the first trip to Davidson since 2003.
Â
The next day is the home opener against UNCW. The match kicks off a three match homestand. This will be the first time since 2015 that the Tar Heels face the Seahawks. They're 5-1 all time against UNCW including 3-1 in Chapel Hill.
Â
JMU is next up on Sept. 3. The Dukes come to Chapel Hill for the first time since 2013. The Tar Heels hold a 6-0 record against JMU.
Â
The following day Carolina welcomes Colorado State to Carmichael Arena. The two squads haven't faced off since 2022. UNC is looking for its second ever win against the Rams, holding a 1-4 record all time.
Â
After that, the Tar Heels head to Kentucky to take on the reigning national runner-up Kentucky on Sept. 9 for the ACC-SEC Showdown at the Net. Kentucky finished the season ranked No. 3 in RPI and won the SEC Tournament and then advanced all the way to the National Championship Match before falling to Texas A&M. UNC comes into the match with a 6-11 record against the Wildcats, winning its last matchup in 2014.
Â
Carolina will then square off with another SEC foe, this time heading to the Big Apple to take on Vanderbilt in a neutral site matchup on Sept. 13 at Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan. This will be the first ever matchup between the two teams.
Â
The non-conference slate doesn't let up as the Tar Heels then travel to Lincoln, Neb. to take on Nebraska on Sept. 18. The Cornhuskers had an undefeated regular season and ended the year at No. 1 in RPI. UNC is 1-1 all time against Nebraska, winning its most recent matchup in 1996. Carolina is 0-1 all time at Nebraska. The following day the Tar Heels will play FGCU in a neutral site match to wrap up the non-conference season. This will be the first time the two teams have played each other.
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Carolina will look to make the NCAA tournament in three straight seasons for the first time since 2010-16 when they made seven consecutive trips.
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