University of North Carolina Athletics
Friday, February 8
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
4 PM ET
North Carolina
vs
Baylor
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
North Carolina Opens 2019 Season at Puerto Vallarta College Challenge
February 5, 2019 | Softball
CHAPEL HILL – The Tar Heels begin their 43rd season in program history at the PV College Challenge Friday through Sunday in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. North Carolina was selected as the Coastal favorite for the second season, third overall, for head coach Donna J. Papa's 34th season at the helm.
North Carolina will face four NCAA Tournament teams in Puerto Vallarta, beginning with No. 18 Baylor and No. 3 Washington on Friday. Saturday, the Tar Heels face BYU and wrap up play against No. 9 South Carolina on Sunday. Fans can watch all four games on FloSoftball ($) and follow live stats at UNClivestats.com. For more information about the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge, visit pvcollegechallenge.com.
Meet The Tar Heels
The Tar Heels return 15 letterwinners and welcome eight newcomers to the 2019 squad. Carolina welcomes back a veteran outfield with three seniors, Destiny DeBerry, Leah Murray and Kiani Ramsey. Fellow senior Berlynne Delamora anchors a young infield. Junior Brittany Pickett returns to lead Carolina's pitching staff after tossing 299.2 innings in 2018. Pickett led the nation in innings pitched and shutout her opponents 10 times to lead the ACC and rank 14th nationally. Of the eight newcomers, Abby Settlemyre highlights the class as the 2017-18 North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year. A late addition to the squad, UNC welcomes infielder Tainasha Vines who competed in track & field as a freshman and sophomore at Carolina.
Record watch
Senior Leah Murray ranks third in program history with 78 stolen bases. Tiffany Tolleson holds the record with 102 and Christine Knauer just ahead of Murray at 81. Fellow senior Destiny DeBerry ranks seventh with 65 stolen bases. In the circle, Brittany Pickett's name can be found eight times with her highest ranking of third with eight career saves. Lisa Norris holds the record at 11.
Schedule Outlook
The Tar Heels open 2019 with 10-straight games against 2018 NCAA Tournament teams, including Washington – the 2018 runner up. In North Carolina's first three tournaments, the Tar Heels face all but one NCAA Tournament foe. Carolina will host the ACC/Big Ten Challenge for the fourth time with Louisville, Michigan and Northwestern. After traveling to the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, UNC wraps up tournament play with the Carolina Classic at Anderson Stadium. During ACC play, UNC hosts 2018 Women's College World Series Champion, Florida State at Anderson Stadium in April. The Tar Heels also welcome Boston College, Georgia Tech and Virginia to Chapel Hill and travel to Duke, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech and Louisville. UNC faces four NCAA Tournament teams for midweek contests, Georgia, Tennessee, Liberty and UNCG. North Carolina also hosts Coastal Carolina, UNCW and NCCU during the week at Anderson Stadium.
Papa Signs Five-year Contract
Entering her 34th season at the helm of the Tar Heels, head softball coach Donna J. Papa has signed a five-year contract with North Carolina, as announced by Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham. A NFCA Hall of Fame head softball coach, Papa has led the Tar Heels to over 1,200 wins since 1986. Papa has led Carolina to the NCAA Tournament in 14 of the past 18 years, five regular-season ACC titles and the 2001 ACC Tournament crown. The five-time ACC coach of the year has the most ACC wins of any coach in league history with 239. UNC has posted a winning record in 30 of her 33 seasons, with 14 40-win seasons, including a 50-12-1 campaign in 2008, which included an ACC regular-season title at 18-2 and a bid to host an NCAA Regional.
Pickett, Ramsey selected to Preseason all-ACC Team
Additionally, Brittany Pickett and Kiani Ramsey have been named to the preseason all-ACC team. Florida State has five preseason selections while North Carolina ties with Syracuse and Louisville for the second-most with two apiece.
Coastal Favorite in ACC Preseason Poll
North Carolina, the favorite to win the Coastal Division, has been selected third in the 2019 Atlantic Coast Conference preseason softball coaches poll, as voted on by the ACC head coaches. North Carolina finished the 2018 regular season third, behind Florida State and Pitt. Reigning Women's College World Series champion, Florida State is the ACC favorite heading into 2019, receiving 121 points and 11 first-place votes. Notre Dame came in just ahead of UNC with 102 points while Carolina picked up 95. Pitt and Louisville round out the top five with 88 and 75 points, respectively.
Stay up to date with Carolina Softball by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.
North Carolina will face four NCAA Tournament teams in Puerto Vallarta, beginning with No. 18 Baylor and No. 3 Washington on Friday. Saturday, the Tar Heels face BYU and wrap up play against No. 9 South Carolina on Sunday. Fans can watch all four games on FloSoftball ($) and follow live stats at UNClivestats.com. For more information about the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge, visit pvcollegechallenge.com.
Meet The Tar Heels
The Tar Heels return 15 letterwinners and welcome eight newcomers to the 2019 squad. Carolina welcomes back a veteran outfield with three seniors, Destiny DeBerry, Leah Murray and Kiani Ramsey. Fellow senior Berlynne Delamora anchors a young infield. Junior Brittany Pickett returns to lead Carolina's pitching staff after tossing 299.2 innings in 2018. Pickett led the nation in innings pitched and shutout her opponents 10 times to lead the ACC and rank 14th nationally. Of the eight newcomers, Abby Settlemyre highlights the class as the 2017-18 North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year. A late addition to the squad, UNC welcomes infielder Tainasha Vines who competed in track & field as a freshman and sophomore at Carolina.
Record watch
Senior Leah Murray ranks third in program history with 78 stolen bases. Tiffany Tolleson holds the record with 102 and Christine Knauer just ahead of Murray at 81. Fellow senior Destiny DeBerry ranks seventh with 65 stolen bases. In the circle, Brittany Pickett's name can be found eight times with her highest ranking of third with eight career saves. Lisa Norris holds the record at 11.
Schedule Outlook
The Tar Heels open 2019 with 10-straight games against 2018 NCAA Tournament teams, including Washington – the 2018 runner up. In North Carolina's first three tournaments, the Tar Heels face all but one NCAA Tournament foe. Carolina will host the ACC/Big Ten Challenge for the fourth time with Louisville, Michigan and Northwestern. After traveling to the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, UNC wraps up tournament play with the Carolina Classic at Anderson Stadium. During ACC play, UNC hosts 2018 Women's College World Series Champion, Florida State at Anderson Stadium in April. The Tar Heels also welcome Boston College, Georgia Tech and Virginia to Chapel Hill and travel to Duke, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech and Louisville. UNC faces four NCAA Tournament teams for midweek contests, Georgia, Tennessee, Liberty and UNCG. North Carolina also hosts Coastal Carolina, UNCW and NCCU during the week at Anderson Stadium.
Papa Signs Five-year Contract
Entering her 34th season at the helm of the Tar Heels, head softball coach Donna J. Papa has signed a five-year contract with North Carolina, as announced by Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham. A NFCA Hall of Fame head softball coach, Papa has led the Tar Heels to over 1,200 wins since 1986. Papa has led Carolina to the NCAA Tournament in 14 of the past 18 years, five regular-season ACC titles and the 2001 ACC Tournament crown. The five-time ACC coach of the year has the most ACC wins of any coach in league history with 239. UNC has posted a winning record in 30 of her 33 seasons, with 14 40-win seasons, including a 50-12-1 campaign in 2008, which included an ACC regular-season title at 18-2 and a bid to host an NCAA Regional.
Pickett, Ramsey selected to Preseason all-ACC Team
Additionally, Brittany Pickett and Kiani Ramsey have been named to the preseason all-ACC team. Florida State has five preseason selections while North Carolina ties with Syracuse and Louisville for the second-most with two apiece.
Coastal Favorite in ACC Preseason Poll
North Carolina, the favorite to win the Coastal Division, has been selected third in the 2019 Atlantic Coast Conference preseason softball coaches poll, as voted on by the ACC head coaches. North Carolina finished the 2018 regular season third, behind Florida State and Pitt. Reigning Women's College World Series champion, Florida State is the ACC favorite heading into 2019, receiving 121 points and 11 first-place votes. Notre Dame came in just ahead of UNC with 102 points while Carolina picked up 95. Pitt and Louisville round out the top five with 88 and 75 points, respectively.
Stay up to date with Carolina Softball by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
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