Oct. 26, 2009

MADISON, WISC. - The University of North Carolina volleyball team is currently ranked 15th in the country in home volleyball attendance. The rankings, compiled and released by the University of Wisconsin Athletic Communications, reflects a school's home attendance if their average is above 800 fans. Carolina is the lone ACC school ranked in the top 25, but this weekend's ACC foes Clemson and Georgia Tech check in the top 53 schools ranked.

Carolina averages 2, 227 fans in seven home matches in 2009. The Tar Heels register one of the highest attendances of 2009, when 12, 724 fans packed the Dean E. Smith Center for their match against Duke. The match preceded Late Night with Roy, an event showcasing the schools men's and women's basketball teams. Carolina is 11-10 overall and 7-3 in league play, winning five of their seven games on their home court. The Tar Heels are familiar to large attendances, North Carolina has played in front of the two largest crowds ever to witness a collegiate regular season NCAA volleyball match. The Heels hosted 16,126 fans in 2003 to set the record and 13, 797 fans a year ago against Clemson.

Carolina opens a five-game home stand Friday against Georgia Tech, as head coach Joe Sagula is only five wins away from 600 career victories. Rankings are listed below:

2009 Attendance Rankings by School

1. Hawa'ii
2. Nebraska
3. Minnesota
4. Wisconsin
5. Texas
6. Penn State
7. Wichita State
8. Florida
   
9. Illinois
10. Washington
11. Stanford
12. Northern Iowa
13. Purdue
14. Michigan State
15. North Carolina
16. Kansas State
17. Colorado State
18. New Mexico State
19. Iowa State
20. Missouri
21. Oregon
22. UCLA
23. Fresno State
24. New Mexico
25. Oregon State