Volleyball set to open first home stand of season

Experience wins games.

And with 11 out of 17 players having at least two years of experience, the No. 17 North Carolina volleyball team hopes to prove why the phrase is cliche.

So far this season, the maturity has led to victories. The UNC volleyball team is currently 4-1 and coming off its second consecutive ACC-Big Ten Challenge victory, defeating then No. 14 Michigan State and unranked Michigan in straight sets.

Tonight marks the start of the Carolina Classic, in which the team will have its first home games of the season.

The team will play No. 16 Kentucky followed by Georgia Southern and VCU on Saturday.

Coach Joe Sagula said the team’s one loss set the standard for where UNC needs to be every match, whether on the road or at home.

As for UNC’s leadership and experience, Sagula said intangibles cannot be understated.

“The fact that the youngest player on the court is a sophomore and that sophomore played every single match last year, Abbey (Curry) ... is important,” Sagula said. “They know what to expect week in and week out and what the standard is.”

Junior Paige Neuenfeldt echoed Sagula’s statement and said the team’s maturity is obvious once the players step onto the court.

“We have a lot of cohesiveness,” Neuenfeldt said. “The core group of starters has been around for three years now, so it’s easier to mesh. We don’t make rookie mistakes anymore.”

Senior Lauren McAdoo, who recently earned ACC Player of the Week honors, averaged 4.67 kills per set in the previous two games.

McAdoo said the team’s early success combined with a top 25 ranking builds the team’s confidence as opposed to adding pressure.

“I think that we have a lot of talent and a lot of depth, which I think is something that can take us really far,” McAdoo said. “I think our defense has improved tremendously, and that goes along with blocking and everything as well.”

With three games in two days, McAdoo said the crowd’s energy will help the team remain driven.

“I think a lot of it is just playing at home,” she said. “Everyone is excited to play in front of our friends and family and to defend Carmichael Arena.”

As the team begins its home stand, Neuenfeldt said it is taking a different approach to its games, in comparison to last year’s 15-0 start.

Instead of shooting for the undefeated ideal, the team is focused on using the season to prepare itself for the NCAA Tournament.

“We’re more focused on getting better every single game,” Neuenfeldt said.

“It’s about what we can do to improve from game to game and how we’re going to be good in December.”

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