Tar Heels record big wins before road trip

After taking down two of the top teams in the ACC at home the North Carolina volleyball team (13-9 7-4 ACC) will head out on two weekend road trips.

The Tar Heels defeated Clemson (16-6 8-3 ACC) and Georgia Tech (15-6" 7-4 ACC) this weekend to put them in a three-way tie for fourth place in the conference.

""The positive thing about this weekend is if Georgia Tech and Clemson end up in a good position" we've beaten them" coach Joe Sagula said.

And we don't have to play them on the road again.""

North Carolina has been nearly perfect at home this season with an 8-1 record" but the team has struggled on the road garnering a 5-8 record.

Conference-leading Virginia Tech (17-5 8-3 ACC) will be the highlight of UNC's road trip played Nov. 8 in Blacksburg Va.

The team's other three stops will be at Boston College Maryland and Virginia" all teams with losing records in conference play.

""We've got two separate weekends" looking at two different types of discipline Sagula said. Number one" we're going to play the 11th and 12th teams in the conference.

""Then we're going to play teams in first in Virginia Tech.""

The Tar Heels are only one game out of the ACC lead"" and Sagula said it's hard not to look past the first weekend's opponents.

""It's tempting" but I don't want to think about four (games)" he said. I want to think about Boston College.""

The Tar Heels are almost midway through their ACC schedule"" and Sagula said it's important for his team to finish strong in the conference.

""We have nine matches to go" he said. Obviously" we want to win every one of them.

""If we do"" we're going to get it done because a lot of those teams have to play each other.""

Redshirt freshman right-side hitter Courtney Johnston said she thinks a much higher intensity level in practice has led to wins for the Tar Heels on the court.

""We've switched lineups"" Johnston said. Every day we come into practice and anyone can earn a starting position.

""People have to work hard everyday.""

She also said she attributes their success to a game-by-game preparation style.

""A lot of our players can't take two different teams and watch film one day and watch film (of the other team) the other day"" she said. It has to be separated.

 ""That's how I think we're finding success" too" is finding key targets on each subject.""

Sagula said his team has to stay focused in its last nine games of conference play if they want to impress the NCAA selection committee.

""One of the key things" I think is if we're going to make the NCAA tourney they look at how you play in your last five or 10 matches" so we need to keep playing well.""



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