March 3, 1999

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - North Carolina's varsity eight ranks among the top boats in the country, according to US Rowing's preseason poll. In just the second year as a varsity program, the Tar Heels received enough mentions in the balloting to finish 14th.

"It's a good vote of confidence for us," UNC coach Joel Furtek said. "We're happy to be mentioned in the same breath as those outstanding teams. Our goal is to be one of the top 10 teams in the country and this ranking validates our belief that we're moving closer to that goal."

The Carolina eight finished 11th among collegiate crews at the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston last October. The athletes who will make up the varsity eight this spring and work to improve on the US Rowing ranking are: Meredith Acly, Lauren Agrella, Heather Higgins, Rachel Kolbinsky, Erin Nepel, Lucienne Papon, Dana Peirce, Danae Ringelmann and coxswain Sam Hermitte

The Tar Heels will spend next week's spring break training in Gainesville, Ga., the site of last year's NCAA Championships, where UNC won a bronze in the women's four. Carolina's first competition of the spring is March 27-28 at the San Diego (Calif.) Crew Classic.

The US Rowing women's eight preseason poll is as follows: 1. Washington; 2. Virginia; 3. Michigan; 4. Brown; 5. Princeton; 6. Northeastern; 7. Southern California; 8. Wisconsin; 9. Massachusetts; 10. Ohio State

Others receiving votes (in order of number of votes received): Radcliffe, California, Michigan State, North Carolina, Penn, Oregon State, Navy