July 25, 2002

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.--The North Carolina volleyball team has been selected to finish first in the Atlantic Coast Conference for the 2002 season, as voted on by the nine conference coaches.

The Tar Heels, the three-time defending conference champions in the ACC, earned 78 points in the poll, followed by Duke with 69 points and Georgia Tech with 63 points. "This serves as a motivation for us maintain our level of play and represent the conference at a high level," said Joe Sagula, who enters his 13th season as head coach. "It would be very special if this team could win four consecutive titles like other great ACC teams have in the past."

UNC will return 10 letter-winners and five starters on this year's squad, including 2001 ACC Tournament MVP senior outside hitter Malaika Underwood and 2001 AVCA All-East Region First Team and first-team All-ACC senior outside hitter Laura Greene. Another duo of seniors will figure heavily into the Tar Heel finish in 2002, including setter Eve Rackham and middle hitter Holly Strauss. This group of seniors have been ACC Champions for each of their three seasons.

"The program has come a long way in the last four years," Sagula said. "These four seniors and the rest of the players have accomplished many great things, both for the team and individually."

Last year Carolina edged out Duke in the conference championship, 3-1, after finishing the regular season tied for second in the standings with Georgia Tech. The Tar Heels finished 24-9 (12-4 ACC) including a trip to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Duke, which finished first in the ACC regular season last year, returns four starters including first-team All-ACC performer Josie Weymann. Georgia Tech finished tied for second with the Tar Heels in the 2001 regular season and will return first-team All-ACC honorees Lynnette Moster and Kele Eveland, as well as the 2001 ACC Rookie of the Year, Lauren Sauer.

Rounding out the conference poll in order of finish are Maryland (45), Florida State (42), Clemson (38), Wake Forest (36), Virginia (24) and NC State (10).

2002 Pre-Season ACC Volleyball Poll

School (Points) - 2001 Record/Finish
1. North Carolina (78) - 24-9, 12-4 ACC/T2nd
2. Duke (69) - 23-5, 13-3 ACC/1st
3. Georgia Tech (63) - 19-8, 12-4 ACC/T2nd
4. Maryland (45) - 12-14, 7-9 ACC/6th
5. Florida State (42) - 17-12, 10-6 ACC/T3rd
6. Clemson (38) - 11-17, 4-12 ACC/7th
7. Wake Forest (36) - 20-11, 10-6 ACC/T3rd
8. Virginia (24) - 9-18, 3-13 ACC/8th
9. NC State (10) - 6-21, 1-15 ACC/9th