By Logan Harlow
CHAPEL HILL — No. 19 North Carolina jumped out to a 3–0 lead in the first set Thursday night and appeared poised to cruise. James Madison had other ideas.
The Dukes became the first team in three matches to take a set off the Tar Heels, winning the opener 25–21, before Carolina regrouped to close out a 3–1 volleyball win at Carmichael Arena, taking the final three sets 25–21, 25–18 and 25–19.
Coach Mike Schall said what stood out most was the way it answered the early adversity.
“I think it was the way we responded that I love,” he said. “We didn’t get on any magical scoring runs. We just kept punching back, and that’s what you have to do against a team like that.”
Carolina looked in control early in the first set, leading 10–9 behind a standout defensive effort from Bridget Malone, who finished with a double-double of 11 kills and 11 digs. But a service error into the net and a stretch in which the Tar Heels struggled to handle James Madison’s serves opened the door for the Dukes (2–1) to swing to a 14–10 lead. JMU held that cushion for the rest of the set.
Subscribe to read Tar Heel Tribune ad-free
Subscribe for a cleaner, smoother reading experience without the flashing banners, slow-loading elements, or those especially annoying pop‑up ads that interrupt the flow of the story. You’ll also get the first version of each story emailed to you. The only ads you’ll see are static, non-intrusive ads for UNC‑related books, and there are none currently on the site.
The first-set loss didn’t rattle Carolina, and the Tar Heels seized the momentum from there. Graduate opposite hitter Chelsea Thorpe (top photo), who led UNC with 14 kills, said the team had entered the match with a plan but needed live competition to sharpen it.
“We knew the game plan. I think you don’t really get into it until you’re playing the team,” Thorpe said. “I think we just started executing better. That’s all we needed to do. I think one side of the game we needed to improve was defense, and that was something we made a focus in the second, third and fourth sets.”
Carolina settled in during the second set, with Safi Hampton, who finished with 13 kills, and Lauren Sheppard helping the Tar Heels build an early 9–5 lead. James Madison answered with a push of its own, tying the set. With the score tied at 21 and Carolina four points from facing a daunting two-set deficit, the Tar Heels reeled off four straight points, powered by a determined Thorpe, to close out the set.
“The back row behind us had our back,” Thorpe said. “So, we definitely stepped up our defense.”
Hampton, Jackie Taylor and Laynie Smith were also constantly making plays as UNC dug themselves out of the early hole.
UNC will now make the quick turnaround against Colorado State at 6 p.m. Friday at Carmichael Arena.
“We feel very prepared because we’ve been studying them all week,” Schall said. “From a player perspective, it’s more of a cram session. James Madison was our top priority [Thursday], and we’ll just get to work. We’ll get into a good rhythm [Friday] and give them the information that they need to be prepared for.”
No. 19 UNC 3, JMU 1
| Date | Month/day | Time/ score | Opponent (current rankings) | Record/ TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August | ||||
| 29 | Saturday | W, 3–0 | at Davidson | 1–0 |
| 30 | Sunday | W, 3–0 | vs. UNCW | 2–0 |
| September | ||||
| 3 | Thursday | W, 3–1 | vs. James Madison | 3–0 |
| 4 | Friday | 6 p.m. | vs. Colorado State | ACCNE |
| 9 | Wednesday | 7 p.m. | at No. 3 Kentucky | SECN |
| 13 | Sunday | 2 p.m. | vs. Vanderbilt in New York | |
| 18 | Friday | 8 p.m. ET | at No. 1 Nebraska | Big 10 Network |
| 19 | Saturday | 1 p.m. ET | vs. FGCU in Lincoln, Neb. | |
| 25 | Friday | 7 p.m. | at N.C. State | ACCNE |
| 27 | Sunday | 4 p.m. | at Wake Forest | ACCN |
| October | ||||
| 2 | Friday | 7 p.m. | vs. Clemson | ACCNE |
| 9 | Friday | 6 p.m. | at Virginia Tech | ACCNE |
| 11 | Sunday | 1 p.m. | at Virginia | ACCN |
| 16 | Friday | 6:30 | at Notre Dame | ACCNE |
| 18 | Sunday | 1 p.m. | at No. 6 Louisville | ACCNE |
| 23 | Friday | 7 p.m. | vs. California | ACCNE |
| 25 | Sunday | 8:30 | vs. No. 4 Stanford | ESPN |
| 30 | Friday | 7 p.m. | vs. Syracuse | ACCNE |
| November | ||||
| 1 | Sunday | 2 p.m. | vs. Boston College | ACCN |
| 8 | Sunday | 1 p.m. ET | at No. 8 SMU | ACCNE |
| 12 | Thursday | 6:30 | at Duke | ACCNE |
| 15 | Sunday | 1 p.m. | vs. Duke | ACCN |
| 20 | Friday | 7 p.m. | vs. Miami | ACCNE |
| 22 | Sunday | 1 p.m. | vs. Florida State | ACCNE |
| 25 | Wednesday | 7 p.m. | vs. No. 6 Louisville | ACCNE |
| 27 | Friday | 1 p.m. | at Miami | ACCNE |
Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics Communications
