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UNC Volleyball 2026-2027

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volleyballer1

Sophomore
Nov 24, 2025
72
175
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uncjhodges said:
I didnt get to see the Pitt game, but seems like more of the same from Friday. I’m not a master strategist or anything but i don’t even know where to go for this team to succeed against good teams without drastic moves We’re not even really close. Against the really good teams, we’ve lost 18 sets to 2. Thankfully we’ve won a couple tight 5 set matches against pretty good teams (Colorado State, Stanford, and GT)
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We were better against Pitt, but one thing that I noticed....we could sustain long rallies but we were never the ones ending it. we either errored, got blocked, or put over easy free balls. A great team knows how to terminate in transition. We are lacking that.

At this point I dont know if you can correct it. Our setters are what they are and our first pass is not going to be improved by anyone on the bench. Our issue is sustaining a high level of play. Our setters have no idea how to trick a defense and get our hitters 1v1. they are extremley readable and often not on target.

I would have loved to see Marlie with our current pins/middles. Since that cant happen, I wish Emily would get more time. Sienna and Zoe both set a ball to the pin this weekend that ended up being a set on the other side to the opposing hitter. that is inexcusable at this level.

If we are player-led its time they all realize they have way more potential to showcase beyonf this weekend.
 
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uncjhodges

All-American
Sep 1, 2025
2,347
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volleyballer1 said:
We were better against Pitt, but one thing that I noticed....we could sustain long rallies but we were never the ones ending it. we either errored, got blocked, or put over easy free balls. A great team knows how to terminate in transition. We are lacking that.

At this point I dont know if you can correct it. Our setters are what they are and our first pass is not going to be improved by anyone on the bench. Our issue is sustaining a high level of play. Our setters have no idea how to trick a defense and get our hitters 1v1. they are extremley readable and often not on target.

I would have loved to see Marlie with our current pins/middles. Since that cant happen, I wish Emily would get more time. Sienna and Zoe both set a ball to the pin this weekend that ended up being a set on the other side to the opposing hitter. that is inexcusable at this level.

If we are player-led its time they all realize they have way more potential to showcase beyonf this weekend.
Click to expand...

I don’t think Emily is athletic enough to work with our current service receive/passing.
I think Cozza should move to DS/libero over the summer (i think she’s prolly our best one at that position)
Let’s go sweep duke
 
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bradarb08

Senior
Aug 1, 2025
408
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The offense has been vanilla ever since Rachel Ferguson joined us. It's infuriating. And she was just promoted to Associate Head Coach, so she's not going anywhere. He also seems to be in love with Carson Overbeck, who has now two years in a row been in charge of one of the worst serving teams in the nation. I don't think Mike has the balls to make changes that need to be made. He doesn't have the balls to play the best players on our team. He is a "sunshine and rainbows" coach. That's great for building a postive atmosphere, which we needed, but he lacks the killer instinct and edge that is going to push teams to be elite. His personality is better suited for coaching high school or mid-level college, not DI college for a Power4 conference. Just my opinion.
 
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Jriv23

All-Conference
Jul 31, 2025
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volleyballer1 said:
There is no way to sugarcoat that this weekend was absolutely a step backwards for this program.

I understand that we played #5 and #2 in the country. I just don't see that as an excuse for a team that was supposed to take a major step forward this year after returning most of its core. I also understand we played these matches at home last year, but we still were able to be competitive and even win one of them. There was no semblance of being competitive at any point this weekend.

One thing that I have never said about this team is their lack of get up and dog mentality, but this weekend it just looked like we were on cruise control. And we got blasted.

At this point, I have concerns we may be get seriously challenged at a much imprived Duke who played SMU and Pitt closer than we did....
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The road trip was a major factor IMO. We had to play the best two teams in the ACC at their place and on the road. I think our young ladies will be fine.
 
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V

volleyballer1

Sophomore
Nov 24, 2025
72
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Jriv23 said:
The road trip was a major factor IMO. We had to play the best two teams in the ACC at their place and on the road. I think our young ladies will be fine.
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But at some point if you want to make a jump, you have to win those games. Pitt and SMU each won on the opposing teams floor....

bradarb08 said:
The offense has been vanilla ever since Rachel Ferguson joined us. It's infuriating. And she was just promoted to Associate Head Coach, so she's not going anywhere. He also seems to be in love with Carson Overbeck, who has now two years in a row been in charge of one of the worst serving teams in the nation. I don't think Mike has the balls to make changes that need to be made. He doesn't have the balls to play the best players on our team. He is a "sunshine and rainbows" coach. That's great for building a postive atmosphere, which we needed, but he lacks the killer instinct and edge that is going to push teams to be elite. His personality is better suited for coaching high school or mid-level college, not DI college for a Power4 conference. Just my opinion.
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I dont think the issue is Rachel necessarily...I think she can only work with the setters that have been recruited...she did not recruit Zoe nor Emily. Sienna who we all have said si the best of the three is the one she recruited. Emily was previously recruited by the old staff, then Mike revisited when she came available. She should have gotten more development out of them, but every player has a ceiling.

Mike does need to have assess Carson and our service game. Two years in a row as the last place serving team...that will not get you wins agains teams w high caliber offenses.
 
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3397char

3397char

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Jun 30, 2025
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volleyballer1 said:
But at some point if you want to make a jump, you have to win those games. Pitt and SMU each won on the opposing teams floor....


I dont think the issue is Rachel necessarily...I think she can only work with the setters that have been recruited...she did not recruit Zoe nor Emily. Sienna who we all have said si the best of the three is the one she recruited. Emily was previously recruited by the old staff, then Mike revisited when she came available. She should have gotten more development out of them, but every player has a ceiling.

Mike does need to have assess Carson and our service game. Two years in a row as the last place serving team...that will not get you wins agains teams w high caliber offenses.
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Have you seen who our top recruit is? #3 setter in the 2027 class.
 
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Nate1972

Nate1972

Senior
Aug 1, 2025
200
415
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Question: Is Mike committed to running a 6-2, and recruits setters accordingly, or is he forced to run a 6-2 because the setters he has cannot effectively block and play on the front row?
 
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volleyballer1

Sophomore
Nov 24, 2025
72
175
33
Nate1972 said:
Question: Is Mike committed to running a 6-2, and recruits setters accordingly, or is he forced to run a 6-2 because the setters he has cannot effectively block and play on the front row?
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For the longest time, UNC has ran a 6-2 because we have the personnel to have two really good OPPOS and have been one of the best blocking teams in the nation.

2014: Nelson/Tracey
2016: Tracey/McCorkle

2017-2022 was like OPPO popcorn

2025-2026: Smith and Thorpe

We recruited a few setters that were supposed to run 5-1s. THe plan was for Mariah Evans to take over and run a 5-1 in 2017 but then she medically retired. Mitrovich left, Atherton was subpar, etc....

Zoe was also recruited to run a 5-1 but the staff valued more offense on the floor and blocking over stable setting.

I truly hope we move to a 5-1 next year with Smith setting and L Smith Oppo and move Miller to the middle.
 
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uncjhodges

All-American
Sep 1, 2025
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volleyballer1 said:
For the longest time, UNC has ran a 6-2 because we have the personnel to have two really good OPPOS and have been one of the best blocking teams in the nation.

2014: Nelson/Tracey
2016: Tracey/McCorkle

2017-2022 was like OPPO popcorn

2025-2026: Smith and Thorpe

We recruited a few setters that were supposed to run 5-1s. THe plan was for Mariah Evans to take over and run a 5-1 in 2017 but then she medically retired. Mitrovich left, Atherton was subpar, etc....

Zoe was also recruited to run a 5-1 but the staff valued more offense on the floor and blocking over stable setting.

I truly hope we move to a 5-1 next year with Smith setting and L Smith Oppo and move Miller to the middle.
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That was kind of what i was getting at with Sienna moving to defensive specialist.
 
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Jriv23

All-Conference
Jul 31, 2025
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volleyballer1 said:
But at some point if you want to make a jump, you have to win those games. Pitt and SMU each won on the opposing teams floor....


I dont think the issue is Rachel necessarily...I think she can only work with the setters that have been recruited...she did not recruit Zoe nor Emily. Sienna who we all have said si the best of the three is the one she recruited. Emily was previously recruited by the old staff, then Mike revisited when she came available. She should have gotten more development out of them, but every player has a ceiling.

Mike does need to have assess Carson and our service game. Two years in a row as the last place serving team...that will not get you wins agains teams w high caliber offenses.
Click to expand...
The HC and his coaching staff must bring in better talent in the areas this team has weaknesses in bottom line. If they do not try to do this then the results against your top volleyball teams will be the same.
 
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B

bradarb08

Senior
Aug 1, 2025
408
955
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volleyballer1 said:
This is a really solid class.

I can see Durill replacing Schutter from day 1 similar to JT coming in and starting.

Marlie is an elite setter.

Kroth is going to be fun. Most undersized OH get recruited to play DS/libero. I am more than confident, she can play front row and be terminal at the D1 level.
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Kalia is 5-9, which is what Cozza is listed as. I just don't see her being an OH. I wouldn't be upset about her DSing in middle back and being an option out of the back row a la Siegler at Nebraska last year. She has a fast arm swing. She's very twitchy and athletic, I wouldn't be surprised if she pushed for the L spot.

Also, if you move Cozza out of setting and make her a DS, I think it'd be a waste to only have her in left back (I think i saw somewhere someone mentioned this). If you transitioned a setter out of setting, I'd move them to libero so you have that set of hands for out of system plays and the like... kind of like Elena Scott at Louisville.
 
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V

volleyballer1

Sophomore
Nov 24, 2025
72
175
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bradarb08 said:
Kalia is 5-9, which is what Cozza is listed as. I just don't see her being an OH. I wouldn't be upset about her DSing in middle back and being an option out of the back row a la Siegler at Nebraska last year. She has a fast arm swing. She's very twitchy and athletic, I wouldn't be surprised if she pushed for the L spot.

Also, if you move Cozza out of setting and make her a DS, I think it'd be a waste to only have her in left back (I think i saw somewhere someone mentioned this). If you transitioned a setter out of setting, I'd move them to libero so you have that set of hands for out of system plays and the like... kind of like Elena Scott at Louisville.
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I think our roster inflates Sienna at least an inch if not two. She is not 5' 9 LOL

However, I think Sienna would be an awesome libero if she switched positions and your take on Elena is spot on. She did it all because of setter background.

Kroth, when I saw her at Club Nationals, IMO is all of 5" 9 maybe 5-10. She can leap out of the gym. She will not be a primary pin, but I think she can play on the pin if someone struggles.
 
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3397char

3397char

All-American
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That dook in house announcer was the most annoying thing I have ever experienced. He should be fired just for that dooooooook catchphrase of his after every single friggin point. I had to turn the volume off.
 
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V

volleyballer1

Sophomore
Nov 24, 2025
72
175
33
Kudos to the coaching staff for solid coaching and the players for rallying together with the "next up" mentality.

Swift and Clifford both played well. Curtis and that run is why we did not go 5. That was an all 18 win.

Word is Schutter should be back next weekend for the Florida schools, that is the hope.

I was told Jackie has a sprain. Rolled/ tweaked ankle in Pitt game. Not season ending and not as bad as Malone.

**This is what I heard from sitting in the UNC section at the game*
 
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3397char

3397char

All-American
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Schutter had in ear plugs for the game, which may (or may not) indicate she is still dealing with concussion symptoms. She was also a bunch more subdued than her normal personality. I hope she gets to 100% healed soon. That was a scary fall and I was/am worried about her.
 
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ThreeDHeel

ThreeDHeel

Freshman
Jul 31, 2025
51
78
18
volleyballer1 said:
Kudos to the coaching staff for solid coaching and the players for rallying together with the "next up" mentality.

Swift and Clifford both played well. Curtis and that run is why we did not go 5. That was an all 18 win.

Word is Schutter should be back next weekend for the Florida schools, that is the hope.

I was told Jackie has a sprain. Rolled/ tweaked ankle in Pitt game. Not season ending and not as bad as Malone.

**This is what I heard from sitting in the UNC section at the game*
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Thank you for that intel!
 
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