Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Safi Hampton had a vision: a packed Carmichael Arena filled with energetic fans. The junior hitter hailing from Jessup, Maryland, took it upon herself to spread the word, bringing flyers to her classes at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.

“It may sound a bit silly, but in class, people would say, ‘We should totally go to a volleyball game,'” Hampton shared. “And it worked! People showed up.”

Her effort, along with the support from her teammates and the overall UNC volleyball team, drew a crowd of 1,753 fans on Tuesday night, providing them with plenty of reasons to come back.

Thanks to Hampton’s impressive 11 kills—leading her team—the 25th-ranked Tar Heels managed to sweep No. 11 Florida with scores of 25-23, 25-18, and 25-21. The victory highlighted an unbeaten start to the season at 5-0.

“It wasn’t just about Florida; it was really our first game where we executed well,” Hampton noted. “Everyone was in sync; no one had questions or doubts. The coordination was spot on.”

This match-up against the Gators was significant, part of a series between SEC and ACC teams during the inaugural Schliners Children’s Showdown. Despite a loss to Stanford at the start of the season, Florida bounced back with a strong win over then-third-ranked Pitt. Historically, the Gators had dominated the Tar Heels, holding a 12-1 record against them.

After clinching the first set, which featured four lead changes and eight ties, the Tar Heels not only matched the Gators’ intensity but also dictated the game. The third set was tougher, but UNC sealed the deal when Florida sent a spike out of bounds.

Once the final point was played, Chelseathorpe sprinted onto the court, pumping her fist in celebration with her teammates. This marked the first time the Tar Heels had beaten a ranked opponent since 2016.

“You have to play aggressively to win those key matches,” said Thorpe, a redshirt junior from Chicago. “We had faith in each other. We knew we could win this.”

According to volleyball statistics site Evollve, UNC ranked second nationally in reception points won prior to facing Florida. While their percentage dipped slightly to 68.8% after the win, they were still in the top five, demonstrating an ability to read opponents well.

Hampton acknowledged Florida’s reputation for powerful offensive plays. The Tar Heels countered effectively with a solid blocking strategy; both Thorpe and Jackie Taylor recorded four blocks each, with the team contributing another four.

Mike Scholl, the head coach for the Tar Heels, noted that the team’s preparation paid off, although tracking opponents can be tricky.

“We aim to prepare as best as we can while also playing with freedom. Our coaching staff did an excellent job, but at some point, you just have to hit the court and play,” he remarked. “It was thrilling to see them perform.”

“We’re still figuring things out, but we made some clutch plays, even when we faced blocks. Our coverage was solid,” he added.

The Tar Heels finished last season with a 23-8 record, reaching the NCAA Tournament’s second round before falling to the eventual champions, Pennsylvania. To enhance the team’s prospects, Scholl brought in five transfers and two freshmen for added depth and versatility. Notably, 11 players took the court against the Gators, but this season, 17 players have already seen action in at least two matches.

For Scholl, this win over Florida marked his second victory against a ranked opponent since taking over as head coach. While he was cautious to label it a “statement victory,” he acknowledged its significance during a night when the ACC went 5-3 against the SEC, suggesting it could symbolize something more for the program.

“We needed to prove to ourselves that we could win these types of games. I don’t know about making a statement. Our schedule is filled with top 20 teams,” Scholl commented. “But I think this victory has fostered belief and revealed strengths we’ve been working on daily.”

Looking ahead, the Tar Heels face a challenging stretch from October 26 to November 7, including matches against Louisville, SMU, Pitt, and Stanford. Two of those teams made it to the Final Four last year, with all four currently ranked in the top 10 of the AVCA polls.

While it may appear daunting, the Tar Heels are entering this phase of their schedule with a renewed sense of energy and confidence following their win over Florida.

This game served as a clear signal that UNC is emerging as a serious contender in the ACC.

“I don’t think it’s a surprise,” Thorpe said confidently. “We’ve been working hard for this and understand what it takes to win.”