Wildcats Fall To No. 19 UNC In Front Of Record-Setting Crowd

Saturday, August 29

2 p.m.

Davidson College Athletics

1-1,0-0Atlantic 10

#19 University of North Carolina

1-0,0-0ACC

Team	1	2	3	Final F
North Carolina	25	25	25	3
Davidson	22	17	22	0

Wildcats Fall To No. 19 UNC In Front Of Record-Setting Crowd

8/29/2026 9:50:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

DAVIDSON, N.C. - For the first time under head coach Chris Willis, the Davidson Wildcats hosted a ranked non-conference opponent in No. 19 North Carolina on Saturday afternoon inside Belk Arena. Despite losing in straight sets (22-25, 17-25, 22-25), the 'Cats welcomed a record-setting crowd of 1,303 fans.

For the second straight match, Kinsey Smith produced a service ace to begin the first set. The Wildcats led 9-5 and at one point 12-7 during the opening set. The Tar Heels did not take their first lead until 17-16 when Emily Bobbitt recorded a service ace. Ariyana Johnson led Davidson with eight kills, only one error, and a .412 hitting percentage during this frame. Johnson finished with 13 kills and a .206 hitting percentage across the entire match.

North Carolina bounced back in the second set with a .407 team hitting percentage. Davidson recorded a .032 hitting percentage in the second frame.

After just three kills in the first two sets, Elena Garcia-Guerrios posted five kills with a .273 hitting percentage in the third frame. The third set was also very tight most of the way. Neither team held a lead larger than two points until the Tar Heels jumped ahead 18-15. The 'Cats climbed right back and won five of the next seven points. The score was tied, 20-20, in the third set. Just like the first two sets, UNC's Chelsea Thorpe ended the final frame with a kill.

UP NEXT

Davidson wraps up the Wildcat Classic inside Belk Arena on Sunday, August 30 at 2 p.m. against Wofford, the three-time defending SoCon Tournament Champions.