Nov. 21, 2002

By Will Small
Athletic Communications

Chapel Hill, N.C. - Why stop now?

The No. 12 North Carolina women's volleyball team (28-2, 15-1) is in some kind of groove. The Tar Heels are the three-time defending ACC Champions. They have four returning seniors who bring incomparable leadership and experience to the court every match. They have won 19 or their last 20 matches, sweeping the competition in 10 of those matches.

And on Wednesday, senior outside hitter Laura Greene was named ACC player of the year and Coach Joe Sagula was named ACC coach of the year. Greene was also named to the All-ACC First Team along with senior setter Eve Rackham. Sophomore outside hitter Molly Pyles was named to the All-ACC Second Team.

They have incredible momentum going into this weekend's ACC tournament in Atlanta, and they have shown no signs of slowing down.

Senior middle hitter Holly Strauss likes her team's chances in the tournament.

"Going into the tournament, we're in an awesome rhythm," Strauss said. "We're playing really well as a team, and everyone is clicking on the court. I think the tournament is going to be incredible."

A win over Florida State on Nov. 16 is propelling the team into post-season play. Earlier in the season, FSU handed the Tar Heels one of their only two losses on the season, winning 3-2. In the rematch, UNC dominated play and won 3-0.

"I thought we had one of our best all around matches against Florida State," Greene said. "I think that gives us a great advantage, knowing that we could dominate against a team that beat us."

The two teams could face each other again in the second round of the tournament.

Despite their success late in the season, Sagula said his veteran squad has been on a roll from the start. On Aug. 31, an unranked UNC upset No. 10 Wisconsin, 3-1, in Chapel Hill.

"We won a big match early, and that gave us the confidence to continue playing at a high level," Sagula said. "Starting well eliminates doubts."

Greene named the Wisconsin contest as a turning point in the season, even though it was only UNC's third contest. Winning against such a highly ranked team early instilled the team with a feeling that they could compete with anyone, Greene said.

She knew after that game that the Tar Heels were in for a special season, but she still looks back with wonder on the success they've had.

"I knew we'd be successful, but I don't know if thought we'd be 12th in the nation," Greene said. "I'm still kind of in shock."

Sagula credits his team's high level of play to their experience. The four seniors, Greene, Strauss, Rackham and Malaika Underwood (last year's ACC tournament MVP) allowed the team to pick up where they left off last year.

Their experience will also be important for the team in the postseason. In fact, Sagula said it will be the most important factor in deciding who goes home with the championship.

"It takes having been there to know how to win," Sagula says. "It's really significant knowing how to get to the championship and then how to handle that pressure.

With all the success UNC has had this season, it could be easy for Sagula and his team to look ahead to the NCAA tournament and past the ACC. After all, in the past two years, UNC has had early exits from the NCAA tourney, and Strauss and her teammates feel that this year's team has the potential to reach the round of 8 or further.

But Sagula doesn't want to overlook any of his opponents. He says UNC is only concentrating on Virginia and N.C. State, its potential opponents in the ACC tournament, and it will worry about the future when it happens.

However, it's apparent that even Sagula has expectations higher than a fourth consecutive ACC championship.

"Our goal all year has been to win," he said. "We make no excuses for that."

Carolina will begin its defense of the ACC championship Friday against the winner of N.C. State and Virginia, who play today. Georgia Tech is hosting the tournament in O'Keefe Gymnasium.