It’s not due to a love of the holidays, the weather or even winter break. No, this team is looking past the fall months with one destination in mind: the NCAA Tournament.
But first the No. 20 Tar Heels have to earn their way there, and that means winning early crucial matches in the season’s beginning. UNC opened up the season this weekend at the Illini Classic, sweeping Southern Illinois and Long Beach State 3-0 before being swept in its final match by No. 11 Illinois.
Coach Joe Sagula was pleased with his team’s efforts and is satisfied that it established itself just three games into the season.
“We played three very good opponents, three very highly regarded teams,” he said. “Obviously we want to win every match, but I think it was successful, both in the win-loss column as well as for where we need to be with our program at this point in the season.”
Junior setter Jordyn Schnabl said this weekend’s matches were already prepping the team for post-season action.
“I think it was a good learning experience,” Schnabl said. “We have a lot to improve upon from both our wins and our loss. (Illinois) was a good team, and I think it is going to help prepare us for regular season and, most importantly, December and the NCAA Tournament.”
This year’s NCAA Tournament will take place in Oklahoma City. In the 2013 season, California eliminated the Tar Heels in the first round in what was the third consecutive first-round matchup between the two teams. Junior outside hitter Leigh Andrew said the team needs to be at its best nearing the season’s end if it’s going to have a different outcome this time.
“Obviously, we want to win the ACC,” she said. “So we definitely hope to make it to the NCAA Tournament. We believe that our season will start in December, and that’s when we need to show up, and that’s when we need to peak and play our best.”
