Kaya Merkler: Thriving In Front Of Hometown Roots

Posted Oct 18, 2021
Growing up in Chapel Hill, Kaya Merkler thought one day she would play for North Carolina. Not in Carmichael Arena, though, but at Dorrance Field for the UNC soccer team. "I never wanted to play volleyball at the start," she said. The 6-foot-3 middle hitter grew up in an athletic family. Her parents, Kristopher and Elif, met as student-athletes at Yale. (GoHeels.com)

Related: Volleyball

Check out the Full Schedule for UNC’s ACC Network Takeover
The ACC Network will air a full day of UNC games from the 2025-26 academic year Wednesday, July 1. It’s part of a series of...
Tue Jun 30, 2026

Seth Trimble’s shot to beat Duke, walk-off Supers win highlight UNC takeover day on ACCN
A full day of memorable North Carolina victories, from postseason thrills and rivalry showdowns to a memorable Seth Trimble shot, will take over ACC Network...
Sat Jun 27, 2026

Newsletter: UNC Baseball To Super Regionals, Samodurov Commits, Able, Brown, and Thomas Sign
UNC Baseball advanced to the Super Regional and will host either Texas A&M or USC. It was a big week for Tar Heel Basketball following...
Mon Jun 1, 2026

UNC Volleyball Announces European Tour
UNC Volleyball will go on a tour to Europe this summer. Starting May 28, the team will fly to Istanbul, Turkey to begin a 10-day...
Tue Apr 28, 2026