Nov. 19, 2003

North Carolina will try to earn its fourth ACC Championship in the last five seasons this weekend in Orlando, Fla. at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. UNC takes a 10-6 ACC record into the tournament where they will face Virginia in the first round on Friday at 11 a.m. Carolina and Virginia split their two matches this season, each winning on the opposing court.

"In preparing for Virginia, the good news is that we know a lot about them," said UNC head coach Joe Sagula. "They are playing very, very well at the end of the season with victories over us and Maryland. They are going to be a very tough opponent. Anytime it is the fourth and fifth seeds playing, you expect it to be a close match."

North Carolina had won three ACC Championships in a row until being upset last year by Florida State in the second round. The 19-11 Tar Heels will be led by junior outside hitter Molly Pyles and her team-leading 3.58 kills per game. Pyles also contributes 3.28 digs per game. Junior setter Norma Cortez has established herself as the starter, and is averaging 11.86 assists per game in her last ten matches.

Other Tar Heel players to watch are sophomore outside hitter Dani Nyenhuis, senior middle hitter Aletha Green, junior middle hitter Katie Wright and junior libero Caroline deRoeck. Nyenhuis is second on the team in kills with a 3.38 per game average, while Green is third in the ACC in blocks per game with a 1.28 average. Wright is averaging 2.81 kills per game and deRoeck is team leader in digs per game with a 3.45 average. deRoeck is just 37 away from 1,000 digs in her three-year career.

"Our team is feeling good heading into this tournament," said Sagula. "We are healthier and a little less banged up. This team knows that they can be successful at a tournament like this, So we are feeling good right now."

Virginia is led by two seniors, Paige Davis and Whitney Ashcraft. Davis is averaging 3.99 kills per game and Ashcraft is averaging 5.10 digs per game. Ashcraft had a career high of 42 digs in Virginia's 3-2 win over UNC on Nov. 8. The Cavaliers are 8-8 in conference play and 24-8 overall.

"Our team is very determined and focused," said Sagula. "This will be a very competitve tournament. Anywhere from about five or six teams are feeling very good about themselves and have confidence heading into it. Clemson is playing well, Wake Forest is playing well, so it will be exciting, but I feel good about our chances."

The winner of the UNC/Virginia match will face the winner of the Georgia Tech/8-9 seed match. That match will take place on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.