UNC volleyball team savoring success  

By Jim Furlong : The Herald-Sun
jfurlong@heraldsun.com
Oct 15, 2002 : 11:31 pm ET

CHAPEL HILL -- Coach Joe Sagula considers himself an artist. Now, he could be watching a pretty picture develop for the North Carolina volleyball team.

The No. 11 Tar Heels (18-1, 5-0 ACC) keep improving on the best start in the program’s 31-year history, having sustained the highest national ranking in ACC history for the last three weeks. They are the clear frontrunner to win a fourth consecutive ACC Tournament championship.

The Tar Heels play their next four ACC matches on the road. UNC returns home Nov. 1-2 for matches against Georgia Tech and Clemson, then visits Duke on Nov. 8.

Sparked by four versatile seniors — Laura Greene, setter Eve Rackham, Holly Strauss and Malaika Underwood — the Heels have achieved the highest point in Sagula’s 13 years at UNC.

"You can’t argue with that," Sagula said. "I hope we will keep peaking … that we can maintain this level year after year. I think what is most important for us is that when you get to a [higher] level, not to step back. Where do we go from here?’’

UNC’s biggest goal is to advance to the NCAA Sweet 16, and Sagula will keep stressing a dedicated work ethic.

"I push them as hard now [in practices] as I did early in the year," he said. "If I didn’t, I will be responsible if they let up."

Caroline deRoeck, a former Riverside High standout who is one of UNC’s best defenders, said she thinks the Tar Heels are fulfilling their preseason expectations.

"We always knew we could play well; we are not surprised, but it is amazing," said deRoeck, an agile sophomore. "There is better communication and better attitudes. Everyone out there has a love for the game. They want to fight. They want to do it."

Sagula preaches "relentless pursuit.’’

"We fight for every ball,’’ deRoeck said.

The four seniors have combined to play in more than than 1,450 college games and contributed to a 53-9 ACC record over the last four seasons.

"They have the experience of having learned so much over the years," Sagula said. "The four seniors are not thinking about next year. To them, next year doesn’t matter. It is now and this team is driven by that force.

"They have played together … played tough matches. They have connections on the court. They know how to play, and another thing is they have improved [since joining the program]."

Greene, who holds the school career record for digs (1,287), looks ready to repeat as a first-team All-ACC selection. Rackham is nearing 5,000 career assists and also has more than 1,000 digs.

"Underwood has gotten better and better," Sagula said. "Greene, last year, was not the stud hitter. This year, she leads the team in kills. Rackham is setting her best, and Strauss is just a stable player all the time, a veteran who knows what to do."

The Tar Heels are effective with three jump servers — Underwood (the MVP of the 2001 ACC Tournament), Greene and Molly Pyles, who made the 2001 All-ACC freshman team.

"I think we put pressure on people with a tough, aggressive serve," Sagula said. "We go after people with jump serves."

A fast-reacting defense often saves opposing spikes.

"We touch a lot of balls on the block [at the net],’’ the coach said. "We are playing hard defense. We still need to work on our block. That is the thing day in and day out [that] we have to stay consistent with.

"Offensively, we are a good ballhandling team, and when we are playing well, [we make few errors]."