Women's volleyball takes first place in Tar Heel Classic

The North Carolina women’s volleyball team completed non-conference play Sunday night with a win against Temple University, taking home first place in the Tar Heel Classic.

The Tar Heels went 9-4 in non-conference play. Last year, they went only 4-7 against non-ACC opponents.

UNC is riding a five-match win streak as it prepares for conference play against N.C. State.

Coach Joe Sagula said the non-conference matches have prepared UNC to handle the challenges of ACC play, especially considering the Tar Heels emerge with one of their best out-of-conference records in years.

“We definitely have the momentum going into ACCs,” senior outside hitter Suzanne Haydel said. “Winning three in a row this weekend definitely gives us the confidence booster we need.”

While Sagula said he saw the team’s blocking get better over the course of non-conference play, he still sees room for improvement in terms of his team’s blocking and serving skills.

“We’ll be ready to play N.C. State,” Sagula said. “We’re prepared, but I think we have some things to work on. We have only one practice before we go to Raleigh.”

Against Temple, the Tar Heels served ten errors to just two aces. So far this season, they’ve hit 85 errors to 44 aces.

“We serve tough, but we made a whole lot of errors,” Sagula said. “We need to serve a little tougher with less service errors.”

But Sagula said that enthusiasm and energy are much more important for winning games than any fundamental skill.

“The thing we value the most is out fighting spirit, and if we can do that we will win ACC matches,” he said.

One of the offensive leaders on the team, sophomore outside hitter Emily McGee, produced 75 kills in non-conference play with a .167 hitting percentage. She also dug 78 balls on defense.

That still wasn’t enough for her.

“It’s improving, but it’s definitely not all the way at the top level I think I can perform at,” she said. “I’m making strides in the right direction, and that’s important.”

N.C. State delivered a crushing upset loss to UNC in the final game of last season for the Wolfpack’s first and only conference win.

For some players, Tuesday’s ACC-opening matchup provides an opportunity for revenge.

“You could say we’re out for revenge,” Haydel said. “N.C. State thinks that they can play with us, but we can’t underestimate them. Last year I think that we did.”

Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.