University of North Carolina Athletics
Press Conference: UNC vs. UCLA - NCAA Regionals
December 10, 2016 | Volleyball
North Carolina head coach Joe Sagula and seniors Abigail Curry and Sheila Doyle spoke to the media following a 3-1 loss to #10-seed UCLA in the NCAA Regional Semifinals on Dec. 9, 2016.
Joe Sagula, Head Coach North Carolina
Opening statement…
“Congratulations to UCLA on moving forward. What a great match. I'm really proud of our team. At any point in these sets our team could have easily given up or folded, but they had a lot of fight tonight. I'm really proud of how hard they went to the very end. We needed to get one play here or there that would have made a difference, but once again just proud of how hard they fought and the leadership from Sheila (Doyle) and Abbey (Curry). They were constantly making plays for us throughout the night and really brought us together.
“When we were down in the third set, I remember Sheila saying, 'This isn't us. We're not playing Carolina Volleyball,' and then we really put the pressure on them. I talked to Taylor Treacy and said, 'You need to make a statement here,” and she made the set close again. Abbey was making some great decisions, Sheila was making great digs, Taylor Leath and Julia Scoles were swinging away on the outside. I thought we did everything we could against a really tough team tonight. It was one of those matches I think could have gone either way, but congratulations to UCLA. They played well.
“With this being the last match of the year, there are lots of emotions, but I could not be prouder to be the coach of these young ladies and of the University of North Carolina.”
On the legacy of this senior class…
“I'll remember how they've developed as players over their careers and the improvements they've made, but also what they've done as people. The leadership that they've provided to us, the consistency in their effort. They're going to leave a great legacy behind, and we'll talk about this senior class, what they've given to the program and how future teams can live up to what they've done. Volleyball is very important to them. They're model student-athletes, they're outstanding students in the classroom, they've given it their all, and I will tell stories of the 2016 team and what it's meant—putting us on a national stage, to have a high ranking, to win an ACC Championship, and to always have the fight that they've had. When we were down, we always found ways to stay competitive, and that's a hard thing to do. They've added to the culture of Carolina Volleyball for years to come.”
On Taylor Leath…
“Every time we needed a kill, it seemed like she came up with something. The only mistake I remember is she made one bad pass, and that was about it. She didn't let it bother her. If things didn't go well, she came back with another great swing at a different angle. She just matured as a player tonight. I think she really helped Julia (Scoles). Julia got more confident in the third and fourth sets, I think, because of the way Taylor was playing. She was a great role model for all the hitters.
“They're both young players. We've got freshman and sophomore left sides that are going to be great players in the future and they're going to learn from this. Taylor was great. She was the person we've asked to help lead the team with Sheila and Abbey, and I think she stepped up in a big important match on a big stage, and that's all I could ask for.”
On Taylor Fricano…
“I think it's been remarkable. We took her from a right-side hitting player and made her a middle. In preseason, she played so hard that she became probably one of the best players in the gym. I think her future is outstanding. The last six or seven weeks of the season, she was one of the top players in our conference without question, and that's a great lesson for her. I think she could have another season like this, probably even better, because she was a different kind of player the first half of the season. I'm going to remember the second half of the season, most importantly.”
On Minnesota as a host…
“I want to thank the University of Minnesota for hosting a great event here, a great regional. First class for everyone. They do a super job. We're very happy to have been here and to be part of this. We want to wish both teams the best moving on, and thank you very much.”
#11 Sheila Doyle
On team culture this season…
“This team has been different than any team I've been on. I think it's just a level of trust. The coaches have talked about it all year long that these 19 girls on the team are going to get the job done. Everyone really took that to heart, and that something I've never been a part of until this team. The trust and willingness to put everything on the line and knowing everyone to your left or right has your back.”
On what sets this team apart in your eyes…
“Our legacy is in our effort. I think everybody on our team is ready to run through a brick wall for the person next to them, chase a ball down, whatever it may be. I think that willingness to put it all on the line and compete from the heart is the biggest thing that makes this team special.”
#17 Abigail Curry
Thoughts on the season…
“It's disappointing to get here and not accomplish the goal we set for ourselves. There were moments when we didn't play Carolina Volleyball. We have more attitude when we play our game. I'm really proud of the hustle and we never gave up. Everyone went for it, every single ball until the end. This team is amazing. We fell short on our goal for volleyball but we created a family and ultimately that's the most beautiful thing about this season. I'm really happy with what we've been able to do, although we did come up short. It's been a great year.”
On what sets this team apart in your eyes…
“We had a lot of young girls come in this season, but each of them brought something different to the team. We have great friendships, a lot of trust and respect for one another. There's a tremendous amount of talent, but we've really set our minds to working hard. Work ethic was the thing this year that we really focused on, and I think that's what got us through everything. We've had some really great points this season. That dynamic and the depth that we had are what we thrived off of.”
