Tar Heels Trio Earns All-ACC Honors as UNC Eyes NCAA Tournament Run
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - North Carolina volleyball is heading into the NCAA Tournament with momentum - and some serious hardware to show for it. Safi Hampton has been named First Team All-ACC, while teammates Chelsea Thorpe and Maddy May earned spots on the Second Team. It’s the first time any of the three have received All-ACC honors, and the timing couldn’t be better for a program looking to make noise in the postseason.
Let’s start with Hampton, who’s been nothing short of electric this season. A name already on the AVCA Player of the Year Watchlist, Hampton has powered UNC’s offense all year long.
She leads the team in virtually every major attacking category - points (416.5), points per set (3.89), kills (377), and kills per set (3.25). Her breakout moment came in early October when she torched Duke in a road sweep, earning ACC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Hampton put down 28 kills on a blistering .509 hitting percentage across the series, including a career-best .615 clip in one of the matches - 16 kills, zero errors. That’s the kind of performance that doesn’t just win games, it turns heads across the conference.
With her First Team selection, Hampton becomes the first Tar Heel to earn that distinction since Mabrey Shaffmaster in 2023. It’s a fitting recognition for a player who’s been the heartbeat of the Carolina attack all season long.
On the defensive side, Maddy May continues to build on her legacy as one of the most dependable players to ever wear Carolina blue. She’s been the iron woman of this roster - appearing in every single set (438) of every match (116) during her four-year career.
That’s not just durability, that’s leadership through consistency. She currently ranks third all-time in program history with 1,590 digs, and she’s not done yet.
With the NCAA Tournament looming, May has a chance to cap off her career on the biggest stage.
Then there’s Chelsea Thorpe, the steady force in the middle who’s quietly put together a career year. She posted personal bests across the board - 73 digs, 83 blocks, and 343 points - while adding 299 kills to her resume.
Thorpe’s presence at the net has been a difference-maker, whether she’s shutting down opposing hitters or contributing offensively. Her Second Team nod is a testament to the all-around impact she’s had this season.
With three players earning All-ACC honors, it marks the most for the Tar Heels in a single season since 2021, when Shaffmaster, Kaya Merkler, and now-assistant coach Nia Parker-Robinson all landed on the second team. That kind of recognition speaks volumes about the depth and balance of this year’s squad.
Now, the focus shifts to the NCAA Tournament, where UNC will face UTEP on Thursday in Madison, Wisconsin. With Hampton leading the attack, May anchoring the defense, and Thorpe doing a little bit of everything in between, the Tar Heels are bringing both talent and experience into the postseason.
This trio has already made its mark on the conference. Now, they’ve got a chance to do the same on the national stage.