University of North Carolina Athletics
No. 25 UNC Opens 2011 Season Friday At JU Tournament
February 10, 2011 | Softball
Feb. 10, 2011
- USA Today/NFCA Poll | ESPN/USA Softball Top 25
- 2011 Softball Schedule | PDF
CHAPEL HILL --- After registering a school record nine straight NCAA Regional appearances, No. 25 North Carolina opens the 2011 season Friday against Kansas in the Jacksonville University Tournament. The Tar Heels will play five games in Jacksonville, Fla., beginning Friday morning at 9:30 a.m. UNC also challenges Bethune Cookman twice, Buffalo and host Jacksonville over the weekend.
JU TOURNAMENT FIELD AT A GLANCE
Records: All teams 0-0
Rankings: UNC is ranked No. 25 in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches' poll and is receiving votes in the ESPN/USA Softball poll. Buffalo, Bethune Cookman, Jacksonville and Kansas are unranked.
TV/Radio: None
On the web: TarHeelBlue.com (UNC), JUdolphins.com (Jacksonville), KUathletics.com (Kansas), B-cuathletics.com (Bethune Cookman), Buffalobulls.com (Buffalo)
JU TOURNAMENT SERIES NOTES
• North Carolina and Kansas have met twice on the diamond, splitting the two meetings. The Tar Heels claimed the last meeting in 2009.
• UNC is 1-0 all-time against Bethune Cookman with that meeting coming in 2003.
• The Tar Heels are 4-2 all-time against host Jacksonville, including winning the last two meetings in 2007 and 2009.
• Carolina and Buffalo have never met on the field.
CAROLINA IN SEASON OPENERS
• The Tar Heels have won five of their last six season openers.
• Friday's opener marks the third time in the last five years UNC will open their season on the road. Both of the previous road meetings were also in the Sunshine State.
• UNC defeated LSU, 1-0, in the 2010 opener. Senior Brittany Robinson belted a solo home run to provide the offense for Carolina.
PRESEASON NOTES
• The winngest coach in UNC softball history, Donna J. Papa enters her 25th season at North Carolina and 27th overall with a career record of 978-533-5.
• Carolina welcomes back All-ACC performers Ally Blake and Kelli Wheeler from a year ago. The senior trio of Dani Manko, Brittany McKinney and Brittany Robinson also return for their final season. McKinney cranked 11 home runs and added 26 RBI in 2010.
• In addition to McKinney's return, UNC brings back seven players who started 25 or more games a year ago. Sophomore Haleigh Dickey, who set a new school record with three home runs apiece in two different games in 2010, adds pop at the plate.
• UNC will feature a new look pitching staff of three talented freshmen arms in the circle. Ashley Bone, Sara Buchholz and Lori Spingola form the 2011 Tar Heel pitching staff.
• Carolina will play their first eight games of 2011 in the state of Florida. In fact, the Tar Heels will play 14 of their first 21 games in the Sunshine State. No. 25 UNC will host the Carolina Classic for their home opener Feb. 25.
