|
After a slow start, losing three of its first five matches, Carolina reeled off a school record
15-game wining streak. The streak was highlighted by the Tar Heels claiming the Nike Carolina
Classic early in the season with wins over American, Campbell, and Providence. Also included in
15-game winning streak were victories over all eight of UNC's Atlantic Coast Conference opponents
including then 13th-ranked Clemson.
Carolina continued its impressive play in the second half of the season, suffering losses to only
Clemson and Duke. UNC's 14-2 ACC record earned it a second place finishe in the conference regular
season race.
In the ACC Tournament the Tar Heels were dominant, losing only three games in three tournamen matches
Victories over North Carolina State, Wake Forest, and Clemson gave the Tar Heels their seventh ACC
volleyball championship and first since 1989.
Carolina's impressive postseason play led it to College Station, Texas, and its second consecutive NCAA
Tournament berth. The Tar Heels defeated Northern Arizona in the first round in three games before
falling to host Texas A&M in the second round. This appearance marked only the second time in school
history that UNC had advance to the seond round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Tar Heels also reached their highest ranking ever in the USA Today/AVCA Coaches Poll with a 21st-
place showing. This was the first time the Tar Heels have concluded a season rankied in the Top 25.
Carolina also finished the season as the highest ranked ACC team in the poll.
The Tar Heels had tremendous success in the friendly confines of Carmichael Auditorium during the 1999
season. Coach Sagula's team finished 11-1 and has gone 28-1 at Carmichael Auditorium over the last two
season.
Postseason honors would accompany the Tar Heels' successful season. Senior Tori Siebert earned first team
All-ACC honors and was named to the NCAA All-Distract III team for the fourth consecutive year. Siebert was
third in the ACC in hitting percentage with an average of .352 and finished third in blocks per game with
1.32. Siebert was the Most Valuable Player of The ACC Tournament.
Senior Shannon Smith also earned a first-team All-ACC honors and made the NCAA All-Distract II team. Smith
finished second in the ACCC in blocks per game with 1.47 and finished eighth in hitting percentage with an
average of .308
Junior defensive specialist Liz Feldman also named first team All-ACC and earned All-ACC Tournament honors, as
well. Feldman finished seventh in the ACC with 2.94 digs per game. Senior Asa Gustavsson was named to the All-
ACC tournament team.
Junior Casey Simpson and Freshmans Eve Rackham and Laura Greene also earned recongnition for their work during
the 1999 season. Simpson was named second team All-ACC and earned co-Player-of-the-Week honors for the week of
October 7. Simpson was also fourth in the ACC with 4.11 Kills per game. Laura Greene was named to the All-ACC
Freshmen team along with teammate Eve Rackham. Rackham was named Rookie of the Week four times throughout the
season. Rackham finished second in the ACC in Assists per game with 13.36 and ninth in digs per game with 2.90