DTH/Josh Greer Senior Malaika Underwood (6) stretches to block an opponent during North Carolina’s weekend matches.

"She's very verbal, she puts her opinion out there to lead the team," said co-captain Laura Greene. "She leads by example and steps up to make a good play when we need it."

In UNC's upset win over No. 10 Wisconsin Saturday night, Underwood voiced her opinion on a questionable call, and the official awarded UNC a crucial point.

UNC coach Joe Sagula said Underwood exhibits all the qualities a strong leader should have.

"She brings a lot of determination ... and a lot of the mentality that coaches want in their players," he said. "And if you let her do her thing, hopefully it'll be a good influence on others."

Sagula added that Underwood possesses leadership that can't be taught. He mentioned a moment from last season's ACC tournament match against Clemson in which Underwood rallied the team.

"She willed the team," Sagula said. "She said, 'We will not lose this game.' And I think that somebody has to step up and do that from time to time."

Underwood earned MVP honors of the ACC tournament, and she was also voted team MVP last season.

Underwood said she was surprised, but proud that her teammates honored her for her contributions.

"When coach announced it at our banquet I was shocked," she said. "There are people on our team who get bigger kills and bigger blocks, but I feel I do the little things, and they just recognized that."

Underwood's willingness to do the little things is necessitated by the fact that at 5-foot 9, she is one of the shortest players on the team. As a front line player, her height disadvantage is particularly exaggerated, so she has had to outwork her opponents.

"In games I look a lot for the timing of a hitter, like if they hit on their way down, or if they're hitting at the peak of their jump," Underwood said. "That always helps me in timing the block, so a lot of the times you don't need to jump 20 inches over the net and you'll get big blocks."

Away from volleyball, Underwood has volunteered the past two springs as a coach for a Chapel Hill youth baseball team.

Her love of children has spawned a tradition where she hands off a mini-volleyball to a young fan during pre-game introductions instead of throwing the ball into the stands.

After graduation in May, Underwood wants to enroll in the sports administration masters program and hopes to parlay that into a different realm of UNC athletics.

"My ultimate goal," she said, "is to take Dick Baddour's job and be UNC athletic director."