University of North Carolina Athletics
Friday, September 18
Lincoln, Neb.
7 PM CT/8 PM ET
North Carolina
4-3,0-0ACC
1
at
3
#1 Nebraska
9-0,0-0Big Ten
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 14 | 25 | 21 | 10 | 1 |
| Nebraska | 25 | 20 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Photo by: DALTON T WAINSCOTT
No. 25 Volleyball Falls In Four At No. 1 Nebraska
September 18, 2026 | Volleyball
LINCOLN, Neb. – No. 25 Carolina volleyball became just the second team to take a set off No. 1 Nebraska on Friday night before falling in four sets (14-25, 25-20, 21-25, 10-25). Chelsea Thorpe led the match with 14 kills on the night and added a block.
The first set saw UNC battle with the Cornhuskers. Chelsea Thorpe wasn't scared of the bright lights with five kills in the first set alone. Ultimately Nebraska took the first set 25-14.
The second set was where the magic happened. The Tar Heels held Nebraska to just a .059 hitting percentage in the set racking up four blocks. They also had four aces. Trailing by one at the media break, then by one at 18-17; Carolina rattled off five in a row to take a commanding 22-18 lead. A block by Jackie Taylor and Bridget Malone put UNC up 24-19 and then a Chelsea Thorpe kill ended the set. It marked the first ever set win over a No. 1 ranked team (0-4 with four sweeps entering the match).
Set three was tight all the way to the end but Nebraska ended up taking it 25-21 before they rolled to take set four and the match.
Carolina's 10 blocks are the most against Nebraska this season and .286 is the third lowest hitting percentage that Nebraska has been held to in the 2026.
The Tar Heels have a quick turn around with a date with FGCU Saturday at 1 p.m. et.
The first set saw UNC battle with the Cornhuskers. Chelsea Thorpe wasn't scared of the bright lights with five kills in the first set alone. Ultimately Nebraska took the first set 25-14.
The second set was where the magic happened. The Tar Heels held Nebraska to just a .059 hitting percentage in the set racking up four blocks. They also had four aces. Trailing by one at the media break, then by one at 18-17; Carolina rattled off five in a row to take a commanding 22-18 lead. A block by Jackie Taylor and Bridget Malone put UNC up 24-19 and then a Chelsea Thorpe kill ended the set. It marked the first ever set win over a No. 1 ranked team (0-4 with four sweeps entering the match).
Set three was tight all the way to the end but Nebraska ended up taking it 25-21 before they rolled to take set four and the match.
Carolina's 10 blocks are the most against Nebraska this season and .286 is the third lowest hitting percentage that Nebraska has been held to in the 2026.
The Tar Heels have a quick turn around with a date with FGCU Saturday at 1 p.m. et.
Players Mentioned
Team Stats
UNC
Nebr
Kills
36
49
Errors
23
19
Attempts
106
105
Hitting %
.123
.286
Points
51.0
71.0
Assists
36
45
Aces
5
13
Blocks
10
9
Game Leaders
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
4
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Friday, September 18
Friday, September 18
Friday, September 18
Wednesday, September 16