4
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15. 2008
North Carolina squads set for full weekend slate
BY JOHN DOUGHERTY, BETH
MECHUM AND BRIAN WILLETT
STAFF WRITERS
A year after leading the ACC in
fielding, the UNC softball team
came into 2008 looking to improve
at the plate.
So far this season. North
Carolina has succeeded bevond
expectations and put up numbers
unlike any in the team's history.
Offensively, the Tar Heels have
managed astronomical production,
breaking the school record for runs
twice in the seasons first weekend.
Fueled by such offensive explo
I'Vty focus, n/cy future
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sions. UNC now stands at 5-0 on
the season.
Junior outfielders Emily Troup
and Whitney Allen have led the Tar
Heel off ense with a combined three
home runs and 16 RBls.
UNC coach Donna Papa attribut
ed her team's improved run-scoring
ability t( > an offensive focus in the off
season and. of all things, pitching.
She said her batters are better
prepared to face tough pitching this
year because they see it in practice.
Posting an ERA of 2.57, junior
lisa Norris has pitched two complete
games for a dominant UNC staff.
Sports
Emily Troup
has been a big
part of the Tar
Heels' offensive
explosion to
start the 2008
season.
Of course, even the Tar Heels'
blazing bats And steady arms are
no match for Mother Nature. The
Tar Heels had to nix a set of road
games against UNC-Wilmington on
Wednesday because of rain.
The Tar Heels' next test comes
this weekend when they escape the
weather for Gainesville. Fla., and a
matchup with No. 10 Florida.
Though Papa expects an elevat
ed level of competition from the
Gators, she said her team will try
not to prepare any differently.
“We try to worry about ourselves
more," Papa said. “We focus on what
we need to do to win a game."
Lacrosse begins season
“Excited" is the word of the pre
season for the North Carolina wom
en's lacrosse team. UNC coach Jenny
Levy said they're just ready to play.
After weeks of practice and an
exhibition tournament last weekend
in Chapel Hill. Levy said the girls
are pumped for Loyola tonight.
“We re excited about this year's
team,” she said. "Our defense is
going to be great."
Since the exhibition games did not
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!•] Carolina vs. Virginia Tech j
Saturday, Feb. 16th
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Keegan
Mueller
looks to
continue his
standout year
with two
weekend wins.
keep score. Levy said the main thing
the team Ls worried about is getting
in the right competitive mind-set
“There will be a little bit of a men
tal change from preparation mode
to competition mode." she said.
UNC played teams including
Louisville and UVa. in the South
of the Border Tournament at the
Finley Fields practice complex in
Chapel Hill.
Despite the fact that there were
no official scores. Levy said she was
happy with the team's overall perfor
mance because she could see the pre
season practices coming to fruition.
Junior Amber Falcone Ls expected
to be the defensive leader —a gru
eling task, considering that Levy
believes UNC's defense will be the
Tar Heels’ biggest strength this
year.
But for tonight's game, the defense
isn’t at the forefront of Levy’s mind.
“We need consistent play and to
just put the ball in the back of the
net," she said.
Wrestlers head north
After coming off a strong win Feb.
8 against ACC rival N.C. State, the
North Carolina wTestling team is
looking forward to an action-packed
weekend filled with similar success.
UNC coach C.D. Mock said the
decisive victory provided a big
boost for the Tar Heels.
“It was a great win, particularly
because State has such a strong
following," Mock said. “And they're
also pretty hostile."
Indeed, no love was lost during
the match, with continued domi
nance from redshirt junior Keegan
Mueller, who recorded his second
pin of the season to keep a streak
of 17 straight victories alive.
“Mueller has been great he's
stepped up and demonstrated.’
Mock said. “He shows the huge
difference between WTestling with
confidence and without it. That's
THE LOWDOWN ON TONIGHT'S GAME
r—*\ No. 3 North Carolina at y
vir 9 inia x Wy
\ y John Paul Jones Arena, 7 p.m.
Broadcast: RSN
(22-2, 9-0 ACC) Radio:! 360 WCHL (18-6, 6-2 ACC)
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Cetera DeGraffenreid has steadily improved O 1 y
her game throughout the season, averaging f xr-j
Back court 15.3 points in her last four games UVa.'s ({] k N
Shame* Zoll will have a tough task stopping \
the UNC frosh Edge: UNC
Aisha Mohammed nearly averages a double y
double at 12.5 points and 9.4 boards a game, f
FrontCOUrt giving UVa. muscle down low. But she alone [(] kN
won't be enough to neutralize seniors LaToya \
Pringle and Eriana Larkins. Edge: UNC
Virginia throws a lot of bodies onto the f-*s— —
court too bad the Cavaliers's depth / S
Bench doesn't equal production. No one on UVa. ((] kN K
can match North Carolina sophomore V
Jessica Breland's production. Edge: UNC -sX
On paper, this game looks to have the mak- VT TJ
ings of another UNC rout don’t expect \ /
Intangibles that to be the case. UVa. has played inspired \ j /
hoops of late, losing by just six at Maryland
and winning 12 of its past 14. Edge: UVa. "CA
The Bottom Line North Carolina 78, Virginia 70
COMPILED BY DAVID ELY
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Nominate your
favorite UNC-CH
staff member
or employee
The Student Undergraduate Staff Awards (SUSA)
committee is now accepting nominations for the
2007 SUSA Award. SUSA is a $ 1000 award funded
by student fees for undergraduates to recognize
excellent staff and employees (any UNC-CH
employee that is not a professor or TA):
Examples of those eligible for SUSA
(this is NOT a complete list):
• Housekeepers
• Academic advisors who are not professors
• Student Health Services employees
• Librarians
• Grounjds-keepers
• Public safety employees
For information and to submit a nomination, visit
http://Btudcntorgs.unc.edu/rata. You must be
an undergraduate student to submit a nomination.
t Nomination Deadline:
Friday, February 15 by 11:59 PM
Email nomination form as a Microsoft Word attachment
ahr Daily (Tor Hrrl
the hardest thing for coaches to
teach.”
UNC’s toughness will be tested
with a busy schedule this weekend,
as the team faces Ohio tonight and
No. 22 Pittsburgh on Saturday.
To make matters worse, UNC
will face personnel shortages
throughout both matches, with
redshirt senior Drew Forshey side
lined until the ACC Championships
with an ankle injury.
“Against Ohio we’ll be bringing
up a true freshman at 125 (pounds)
who's seen no college competition,"
Mock said. “But Ohio we should
beat, and we re capable of doing
the same against Pitt.”
Contact the Sports Editor
at sporU@unc.edu.