Volleyball to Face UNC/Duke in ACC/B1G Challenge

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State volleyball is headed to North Carolina this weekend for the ACC/B1G Challenge, facing North Carolina on Friday, Sep. 9 at 6:00 p.m. and Duke at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sep. 10.
 
Both matches will be televised on the ACC Network. Paul Sunderland (PxP) and Holly McPeak (Analyst) are on the call for Friday night’s match while Chris Edwards (PxP) and Brittany Hoyt (Analyst) have the call on Saturday. John Kreger will broadcast both matches for the Spartans on the Spartan Media Network. Access to Kreger’s radio broadcasts can be found on MSUSpartans.com.
 

 
THE OPPONENTS
 
North Carolina is 4-2 on the season, winning three straight heading into Friday with wins over South Carolina (3-0), Arizona (3-2) and Charlotte (3-1). The Tar Heels are coached by Joe Sagula in his 33rd season/42nd overall, owning a 649-374 record at UNC and a 852-497 career record. Sagula is No. 3 in wins among active DI head coaches behind Mary Wise (Florida) and Chris Poole (Florida St.).
 
Outside hitter Mabrey Shaffmaster leads the UNC attack with 4.34 points per set, adding 4.09 kills per set on .219 hitting. Shaffmaster leads the team in digs with 55 and digs per set (2.50). Joining her is Charley Niego averaging 3.45 kills per set on .232 hitting. Middle Kaya Merkler leads the team in blocking with 19 total blocks on .86 blocks per set. Anita Babic sets for the Tar Heels averaging 8.25 assists per set after opening the season sharing time with Ella Bostic.
 
Duke is 5-2 this season, having won five consecutive matches after starting the season 0-2. The Blue Devils have defeated Rider (3-1), ETSU (3-1), Northeastern (3-1), East Carolina (3-0) and Elon (3-1) over that stretch of matches. Duke is coached by Jolene Nagel in her 24th season/35th overall. Nagel is No. 13 in active wins among DI head coaches with a career record of 672-384 and a 469-244 record at Duke.
 
Duke ranks near the top of Division I in several statistics early in the season, ranking No. 3 in total aces (65), No. 5 in total assists (340), No. 9 in total kills (359) and No. 10 in aces per set (2.41).
 
Gracie Johnson is the catalyst behind those ace numbers, ranking No. 2 nationally with 23 aces and No. 6 with 0.85 aces per set. Johnson is also No. 4 in points (142), No. 15 in points per set (5.26) and No. 8 in kills (114), while her…