North Carolina leads five ACC schools ranked in the Baseball America Top 25 poll that was announced Tuesday. The No. 9 Tar Heels are followed Georgia Tech at No. 12, Clemson at No. 16, Miami at No. 18 and Florida State at No. 20.
North Carolina returns 18 players from a year ago, in which they won 51 games and advanced to the College World Series for the fifth time in the last six years.
Florida is ranked first. Defending champion South Carolina is ranked third. North Carolina's season begins with a home series against Xavier on Feb. 17.
Duke junior Henrique Cunha was named the ACC Player of the Week after clinching a 4-3 victory for the Blue Devils against Michigan in Saturday's dual-match opener in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Cunha rallied from a 5-1 deficit in the first set to defeat Evan King in the No. 1 singles match, 7-5, 6-1. Cunha also teamed with sophomore Fred Saba to win the No. 1 doubles match, 8-4.
North Carolina freshman and Cary native Dominick Glavich was named the ACC men's performer of the week. Glavich won five individual events and swam on one winning relay to lead the Tar Heels to conference wins over Clemson and Virginia.
He began the week by winning both butterfly events against the Tigers and helping the 200 medley relay team post a NCAA B qualifying time. Glavich saved his best for last as he swept all three of his individual events - including two wins late in the meet after Virginia had cut the lead to single digits - to help North Carolina beat the Cavaliers for only the second time since 1998.
N.C. State gymnast Brooke Barr took home the EAGL gymnast of the week award, the league office announced Tuesday, for her performance in the Wolfpack's win on the road against Illinois-Chicago.
Barr captured a pair of first place finishes on floor exercises and vault. Barr's floor routine scored a full tenth of a point higher than any other gymnast in the meet.
The Raleigh Sports Club will meet today at Highland United Methodist Church. N.C. State assistant basketball coach Bobby Lutz will be the guest speaker.
Ravenscroft lacrosse player Caroline Margolis will be honored as the student athlete of the week.
