The American Volleyball Coaches Association ranked the North Carolina volleyball team 12th in the final USA Today/AVCA Division I Coaches Poll released yesterday.
The Tar Heels were ranked in each of the 15 weekly polls during the season as well as the final poll and earned the highest ranking ever for an ACC team at No. 11 earlier this season.
North Carolina's season ended with a loss to Hawaii in the regionals of the NCAA Tournament. The team's 32-4 record set a program record for winning percentage at .889.
Barber Honored by USFHA
Former North Carolina field hockey player Kate Barber has been named Female Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Field Hockey Association. Barber, who played at UNC from 1994-97, is in her fifth year on the U.S. National Team.
In 2002, Barber helped the U.S. to an eventual ninth-place finish in the Women's World Cup, held in Perth, Australia, Nov. 25-Dec. 8. Although recovering from a shoulder separation, she scored three goals, including both U.S. tallies in a 2-1 win over Ireland.
At UNC, Barber helped the Tar Heels to three NCAA championships and four ACC crowns. She earned first-team All-America honors in her sophomore, junior and senior seasons and in August of 2002 was named to the ACC's 50th Anniversary field hockey team as one of the top players in conference history.
Barber and five other former Tar Heels shared in another award as the Women's National Team was named the USFHA Team of the Year.
Other former North Carolina members of the 2002 National Team are Peggy Storrar, Carrie Lingo, Abby Martin, Kristen McCann and Abbey Woolley.
