In the summer of 1981, Carolina Volleyball had a need. When the team played in Carmichael Auditorium, the temporary poles that held the net had to be anchored by cables reaching from the stands on either side of the court. It was less than ideal.
Head coach Beth Miller reached out to athletics director Bill Cobey about installing a more permanent solution. But volleyball shared Carmichael with men's basketball and other programs and Miller knew that anything done to the arena floor would also affect those teams.
Cobey got in touch with Dean Smith about installing floor plates on the basketball court.