Aug. 27, 2002

With three consecutive ACC titles, four consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament and the privilege last year of hosting an NCAA Tournament second round game, momentum is on the side of the Carolina volleyball program.

Hoping to maintain that momentum for 13th-year head coach Joe Sagula are 10 returning letterwinners, including four seniors. With one of his deepest rosters during his tenure at UNC, it is evident Sagula is looking forward to the beginning of the season - Aug. 30 vs. New Mexico State.

"It is exciting because you cannot duplicate what it is like to grind it out in a season in the ACC and the ACC Tournament without having been there," the 2001 AVCA East Region Coach of the Year said. "That will be something that we can use to our advantage.

"On top of that, to have four seniors who have been major contributors is significant - four seniors who have a taste of what it is all about and want to go further."

Last year came to an abrupt halt - for the first time since 1985 the team's season ended with a loss on the Chapel Hill campus. The team, hosting a second-round NCAA Tournament game for the first time ever, lost to Pepperdine 0-3 in one of those closer-than-the-score-indicates matches.

While the team was disappointed with the result, juniors Laura Greene, Eve Rackham, Holly Strauss and Malaika Underwood knew that they could return to this stage in 2002.

"They knew that we had come closer and competed so hard that they could feel that next year is the next step," Sagula said. "They knew that it was within their grasp to set that goal and it was realistic. Getting to the NCAA tournament and being there isn't enough. They knew that there was something more that they wanted."

Last year's 24-9 overall and 12-4 in the ACC for a final national ranking at No. 26, just one spot shy of the coveted Top 25. But that is all history, and after spring practices and as fall camp opens the team wants to continue its forward momentum.

"They are talking about wanting to make the Top 16," Sagula said. "It takes that passion, and that vision from the players along with the staff to get there. Having that internal motivation from the players is critical."

Sagula said the keys for the Tar Heels are to stay healthy and focused so the team can peak around the time the ACC Tournament comes around. Helping the team reach its goals is a pair of first year assistant coaches, Jim Lodes and Jill Lytle.

"The new staff is going to add a great new dimension," Sagula said. "With change comes the opportunity to try some new things. Lodes is a veteran coach who will add some great knowledge to our team, Jill's collegiate experience will be a valuable addition to the staff and this program.

The Middle Hitters
All of last year's middle hitters return, led by senior Holly Strauss, the top blocker in the ACC last year. Sagula said her strengths are her forceful blocking and quick hitting. Junior Tammy Foxworth is coming off a red-shirt season after transferring from Florida.

"Tammy is one of the more dynamic middle hitters that will play the position for us," Sagula said. "She is a great leaper, quick and an excellent blocker." Junior Aletha Green, who is described by Sagula as the best natural blocker on the team, and sophomore Katie Wright, who is coming of a great spring season, round out the middle in Sagula's lineups.

The Outside Hitters
First-team All-ACC senior Laura Greene and the reigning ACC Tournament MVP senior Malaika Underwood will be the leaders outside for a very talented group for the Tar Heels.

Greene, who will play the left side, was named to the AVCA All-East Region Team in 2001 after a season in which she entered the 1,000 kill/1,000 dig club at UNC.

"Laura can play any position for us." Sagula said. "She is the most versatile player on our team and has grown and developed into a force offensively. She is one of the top outside hitters in the conference."

Backing up Greene will be sophomore Molly Pyles and freshman Dani Nyenhuis. Pyles was named to the All-ACC freshman team last season.

"Molly played in a lot of games for us last year. That experience will be invaluable," Sagula said. "She will compete for a starting positing along with Dani, who is phenomenal passer and a hard hitter. Both will see a lot of playing time."

On the opposite side, red-shirt freshman Camilla Ihenetu, who may also see time as a middle hitter, will back up Underwood.

"Malaika has solidified the right side hitter position," Sagula said. "She did everything for us last year.

"She's a setter, a primary passer, a hitter, a jump server and one of the team's best defensive players. She is a hard person to take off the court."

Setters
Senior Eve Rackham has been down this road before - for the fourth consecutive year she will be called upon to handle the majority of the Tar Heels' setting responsibilities. She is fourth on the all-time assists list at Carolina with 4,097, and with a solid performance this year could move up to the top of the record book.

"Eve is one of two setters in the history of the conference that has won three ACC titles as a setter," Sagula said. "She is a winner. She competes hard and when a big match is on the line she is going to go out there and play great." Coming off the bench will be freshman McKenzie Byrd, the heir apparent to Rackham's position.

"With McKenzie coming in to back her up as a freshman, learn from her and be able to take the reigns over next year is a phenomenal situation for our program's future," Sagula said.

The Defensive Specialists
Defensive specialist Melissa Higgins graduated in 2002, and the year before Liz Feldman and Lisa Fryer were also lost at the position to graduation. This year, three sophomores and a freshman will vie for court time in the Carolina back line. Sagula said their class shouldn't be an issue on the court.

"People always look at Carolina and say that we have a bunch of defensive specialists," he said. "I think we do and we have a bunch of good ones." Sophomore Caroline deRoeck is the frontrunner to see the most playing time. Last season she saw action in all 33 matches and tallied 234 digs and 20 services aces. Sophomores Heather Catlin and Jayme Mitchell, as well as freshman Taylor Rayfield will all see time.

"All four of them play at a high level," Sagula said. "They each bring individual strengths to the court. Three are veterans after returning from their freshman year, and Taylor played for one of the highest level club teams."