Aug. 23, 2000

At the start of the 1999 season, the Tar Heels were predicted to finish fifth in the ACC Preseason Coaches Poll. They went on to finish second in the regular season and to win the ACC Championship and earn a second consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. After such a successful season, it was no surprise that the 2000 ACC preseason poll has bestowed top honors on Carolina. Along with this prediction and last year's success, the expectations and excitement surrounding the 2000 season are as high as ever.

Head Coach Joe Sagula will begin his 11th year with Carolina coming off back-to-back record-breaking seasons. This year's preseason recognition make the Tar Heels a team to beat in the ACC and they are looking forward to the challenge.

Outlook
The Tar Heels have the taste of victory after winning the 1999 ACC Championships against top-seeded Clemson, and they also look to improve on last year's record of 28-6. This is no small task considering the graduation of arguably two of the best middle blockers in the ACC, Tori Seibert and Shannon Smith.

"We've got what looks like on paper, a young team," Sagula says. "The majority of the team is freshman and sophomores. A lot of the potential starters are still young players."

Sagula still has the maturity and experience of his three seniors: Liz Feldman, Casey Simpson and Lisa Fryer. Feldman received first-team All-ACC honors as a defensive specialist last season and Simpson earned second-team honors. "Liz and Lisa played every match as juniors and most matches as sophomores," says Sagula. "They've been permanent fixtures on the court for our defense."

Including the three seniors, Carolina returns a total of nine letterwinners, all of whom are looking to three-peat on the success of the 1998 and 1999 teams and receive another NCAA Tournament bid.

While many of the returning players will tell you that their biggest sports thrill was capturing the ACC title, they are not content to rest on past successes and this team is geared to produce another winning season.

Schedule
The Tar Heels play a large part of their schedule at home in September, beginning with the Carolina Fall Preview, which includes matches against Hofstra, Coastal Carolina, East Tennessee State and Pittsburgh. A three-game road trip to Tennessee to compete in the Tennessee Classic in Knoxville is next, on September 8-9.

The Tar Heels will again play host on September 15-16, for the Carolina/Nike Classic. The impressive lineup for this year's Classic includes Louisville, Delaware and Santa Clara. This will the UNC's first match-up with Santa Clara.

After facing non-conference foe East Carolina, the ACC season kicks off for the Heels on September 22 against Georgia Tech. Matches against Clemson, NC State and Florida State follow. On Oct. 4, Carolina travels to Gainesville, Fla., to face a Florida Gators squad that has made several Final Four appearances and is annually a top 10 team.

The Heels then return to ACC play and are at Carmichael Auditorium for a five-game ACC homestand in mid-October.

The season will wrap up with a three away matches beginning at Notre Dame, which Carolina defeated last year at home, then Clemson and Georgia Tech.

This schedule will surely be a test of the Tar Heels' skills, but Sagula feels that his team is ready for the challenges this season will present.

Outside Hitter
A solid mix of veterans and youth make up the outside hitter position for 2000. Senior Casey Simpson, one of the most dynamic outside hitters to play at Carolina, led the team last year with 485 kills. "We will look to Casey as an experienced attacker to be the offensive leader," Sagula says. "We will look to Laura Greene and Malaika Underwood to compete at left side and right side positions as well. The experience of Simpson and Greene should set the tone and carry us early in the season."

Middle Hitter
The middle hitter position was built around 1999 seniors Tori Seibert and Shannon Smith for the past four years, but now it's Carolina's youngest position. "We have a very solid player in Krista Buchholz, who had a great spring season for us and will be the leader at middle hitter," says Sagula. "With Krista's play in the ACC championship match and a steadily-improving spring season, I am very confident in our ability to maintain a strong game from the middle position.

"Although the middle will feature first-year starters in Buchholz and Holly Strauss, both players have been part of the program and are familiar with the system and our opponents. This will greatly add to our ability to have a balanced attack. Holly redshirted last year, had a very good spring and continues to improve."

Setters
Eve Rackham was a standout freshman in 1999 and will play a significant role in UNC's quest for another ACC title. Named ACC Rookie of the Week four times last season, Rackham looks to be a major force. She led the team last year in service aces with 36.

"Last year, Eve played every match as the only setter," Sagula says. "With the addition of Jen Schirner we will have depth and additional options for the offense."

Defensive Specialists
Team captains Fryer and Feldman should provide great leadership at this position in 2000.

"This position is as important to us as any position on the court," says Sagula. "We have two of the best in the conference with Liz Feldman and Lisa Fryer and I feel confident that they will set the tone and be the anchors for our team defensively and experience. We also have Melissa Higgins, who is improving and will compete for court time, and Ashley Johndrow, who joined our team last spring. UNC has really made its mark playing defense and these people will set the tone for us."

Newcomers
Aletha Green, Jen Schirner and Nicole Reis make up Carolina's 2000 freshman class. Sagula is confident that this is one of the the most talented incoming classes ever to enroll at UNC. "Aletha is a middle hitter who has great potential," says Sagula. "Reis is the most interesting player because she can play middle hitter, outside hitter or rightside hitter. We're going to need her to be very versatile. Depending on the situation she's going to be adaptable to any of the three positions at the net, and she has the ability to do that.

"Jen will come in and give us the depth we need at the setting position," adds Sagula. Also new to the Carolina program this year is Johndrow, who Sagula says is a good ball handler and a solid performer.