The University of North Carolina volleyball team is ranked No. 18 in the nation, according to the USA Today/America Volleyball Coaches Association Division I Poll released today. This is the highest the team has ever been ranked since the polls began in 1981.
The team topped Ball State and Oregon State, before falling to then-No. 13 Minnesota at the University of Minnesota Nike Invitational last weekend in Minneapolis, Minn. The Gophers moved up five places to No. 8 in the polls, while the Tar Heels moved up two places from No. 20 despite their first loss of the season.
Carolina is off to its second-best start in program history, matching an 8-1 start in 2000. The best-ever start was 9-0 in 1981.
Joe Sagula, in his 13th season as head coach of the Tar Heels and his 22nd year as a collegiate volleyball head coach, picked up career win 450 vs. Oregon State. His career record stands at 450-282, while is record at UNC has been upped to 247-159.
Tuesday, the Tar Heels take on the Davidson College Wildcats in Carmichael Auditorium at 7 p.m. Carolina has won each of the four meetings between the two schools, including a 3-0 victory last September.
For a complete look at the Top 25, visit www.avca.org, click on the Collegiate Game link on the left, click on Division I at the top of the page and click on the link for polls on the right.