Nov. 29, 2005

GREENSBORO, N.C. --- Senior outside hitter Dani Nyenhuis and head coach Joe Sagula were named Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year and Coach of the Year, respectively, the league office announced Tuesday. Nyenhuis, a native of St. Charles, Ill., is the fifth Tar Heel in program history to earn the conference's top honor and the first since Laura Greene in 2002. Sagula, in his 16th year with the Tar Heels, earns the award for the third time in his career.

Nyenhuis was a two-time ACC Player of the Week and a preseason All-ACC selection. She is second on the team in both kills (452) and digs (407), and has recorded double-doubles in 19 of her last 23 matches. She has reached the 1,000 mark in both career kills and career digs in 2005.

Sagula is the league's top coach for the third time in his career and the first since 2002. He also earned the honor in 1998. Sagula has a lifetime record of 536-321 over 25 years and is 333-198 in 16 years at UNC.

Nyenhuis, Sagula and the rest of the Tar Heels kick off the NCAA Tournament Friday night at 7 against the College of Charleston.