May 1, 2006

CHAPEL HILL --- The University of North Carolina volleyball team will begin its Atlantic Coast Conference title defense in Norman, Okla., Aug. 25 against Idaho, head coach Joe Sagula announced Monday. The 2006 schedule will feature seven opponents that reached the NCAA Tournament a year ago as well as a 22-match, double round robin ACC ledger. In addition, Carolina will host its annual home tournament, the GlaxoSmithKline UNC Volleyball Classic.

The Oklahoma tournament will mark the earliest start to a Carolina volleyball season in program history. After the opener against Idaho, the Tar Heels will face Arkansas, an NCAA qualifier from the Southeastern Conference, and the host Sooners.

UNC will travel to Los Angeles, Calif., the following weekend to play in a tournament hosted by Loyola Marymount. The LMU tournament features a stellar field that includes the host Lions, Utah and Tennessee. Each team that UNC will face in the event advanced to the NCAA field in 2005, with Utah falling in the second round and Tennessee reaching the Final Four.

The GlaxoSmithKline UNC Volleyball Classic will bring Illinois, Wichita State and the College of Charleston to Chapel Hill. Wichita State just missed the NCAA tournament in 2005, finishing 28-3 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Charleston will be a very familiar opponent, as the Cougars eliminated the Tar Heels from the NCAA tournament a year ago.

"We are excited once again to be playing an outstanding non-conference schedule," Sagula said. "Our three tournaments all feature programs that have been successful on a national level, and that is something we seek out every year. Our home tournament will, as always, provide an exciting start to our home schedule and give our fans a chance to see some great volleyball."

The Tar Heels will begin ACC play on Sept. 15 with cross-town rival NC State. For the second year in a row, the ACC will not have a year-end tournament. Instead the league features a double round robin schedule, with each of the 12 teams playing a full 22-game slate. In addition to UNC, both Duke and Maryland advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2005.

"The ACC will be as competitive as it has ever been this year," Sagula said. "It is an exciting challenge to be the defending champions, and one that we look forward to. With the new scheduling format last year, the title wasn't decided until the final day of the season. This year should be no different."

After hosting the Wolfpack to open league play, the Tar Heels will travel to Virginia Tech and Virginia before returning home to face Wake Forest and Duke.