Setters Zoe Behrendt and Taylor Eisert guide UNC volleyball to sixth-straight win

Late in the third set, Zoe Behrendt tossed up a quick set to graduate middle blocker Alexis Engelbrecht.

But, the kill attempt was picked up and returned back across the net by a Boston College defender. This time, the sophomore set it up for Safi Hampton on the pin. The sophomore outside hitter connected with the ball, putting it away deep. Set three: North Carolina.

If that set was too high, Boston College blockers may have stuffed Hampton and tied the set at 24-24. If the set was too far in or too far across the net, Hampton wouldn’t have had the right angle. 

This pressure is something Behrendt and graduate setter Taylor Eisert deal with during every point. Still, they kept the offense diverse on Sunday afternoon to lead Carolina to a 3-1 victory over Boston College in Carmichael Arena. 

Hampton, who had already tallied six kills in the third set, clearly had the hot hand. It doesn’t take a genius to notice that. But it does take a high volleyball IQ, good judgment and a perfectly-timed set from Behrendt to keep that hand’s temperature high and the Tar Heels afloat. And that's just what Eisert and Behrendt were able to do. 

BC didn’t make it easy for UNC to score, however. The Eagles assembled an intimidating wall at the net, garnering 14 total blocks. North Carolina was forced to respond by utilizing Engelbrecht and first-year middle blocker Jackie Taylor more often.  

“We can run an effective middle and we just went away from it,” head coach Mike Schall said. “We get a little bit pin-dependent, so diversifying who we’re setting in the right moments is important for us.”

Six Tar Heel attackers recorded five or more kills, including Engelbrecht with 10. This variety of attacks at the net from Behrendt and Eisert mitigated BC's blocking game and created more successful opportunities for pin hitters and middles alike.

“I think our whole game plan was we knew that Boston College was a really good blocking team," Eisert said. "So we knew in order to open up our pins and middles, we had to use everyone to keep the blockers guessing." 

Running a system that uses multiple setters means that the Tar Heels will typically play out of the back row with three hitters in the front row. The presence of an opposite hitter through this system was advantageous for North Carolina against Boston College, as redshirt sophomore Chelsea Thorpe and graduate Emani’ Foster found success on the right side, knocking down eight and five kills, respectively. 

In the fourth set, with UNC leading 23-21, Eisert set senior outside hitter Mabrey Shaffmaster, but her attack was picked up by the Eagles and sent back over the net. This time, keeping the trust, Eisert found Shaffmaster again who threw a deep tip into the corner of no man’s land. 

After a substitution replaced Behrendt with Eisert, Behrendt too fed Shaffmaster on the pin, leading to the outside’s 18th kill of the afternoon and a sixth straight win for UNC. 

To create this success for their hitters, Behrendt and Eisert aim to be identical when it comes to the location and speed of sets. 

“We have very similar tempos and that’s super helpful for not just us but the whole offense," Behrendt said. "Because if the hitters have similar tempos from both of us, because we’re two different people, that’s easier for them to hit." 

And as North Carolina gets further into ACC play, Behrendt and Eisert's consistency and decision-making will be the centerpiece of UNC's offense.

"They're really getting to know their hitters better," Schall said. "And I think that's how they've evolved to this point in the season. I anticipate that will continue."

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