May 7, 2008

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Danielle Spaulding became just the fourth player in school history to be named the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year on Wednesday as she was recognized for her effort in helping lead No. 13 North Carolina to an ACC-record 18-2 regular season mark and the regular season title. Head Coach Donna J. Papa also picked up an award as she was named the ACC Coach of the Year for the fourth time (1996, 1998, 2000) in her 23 years at the helm of the Carolina softball program. Five other Tar Heels earned All-ACC honors on Wednesday as Carolina led with four first team selections.

Spaulding has done it all for the Tar Heels in 2008, as she has led the team with 10 home runs, owns a .318 average to go along with 24 runs scored and 34 driven in. Along with her stellar offensive numbers, Spaulding has been one of the most dominant pitchers in the conference posting a 15-2 record with the second-best ERA in the ACC at 0.91 and striking out 185 batters, more than 11 per game.

Joining Spaulding on the first team are a pair of juniors in Breanna Brown and Lisa Norris along with senior Cassie Palmer. The honor is the second for all three Tar Heels as Brown earned first team honors in 2006 with Palmer garnering a second team nod, while Norris was the lone representative for the Tar Heels on the second team in 2007.

Brown has set the table all year for the Tar Heels as she leads the team with a .361 batting average and ranks first in the ACC with her 48 runs scored, which is just six shy of the school single season record. The Durham, N.C. native has also driven in 25 runs on the year and leads the team with 15 on the year.

Norris lived up to her role as the Tar Heel ace posting a team-best 17-3 mark in the circle with a 0.98 ERA and a team-high 186 strikeouts on the year. The junior right-hander tossed three no-hitters on the year and nearly tied the school record for strikeouts in a single game when she sat down 16 batters against Elon on March 25.

Palmer has elevated her play in her final season in the Carolina Blue as she has posted a .318 average with 38 runs scored and a team-high 39 RBIs from her second base position. The Weddington, N.C. native became just the third player in school history with 50 career doubles and will finish her career by ranking in the top 10 in nearly every offensive category.

Another pair of Tar Heels earned second team honors for their performance during the 2008 campaign with pitcher Amber Johnson picking up the honor along with senior Jennifer Jacobs.

Johnson finished the regular season with a 12-2 record with a 1.28 ERA and was the third Tar Heel pitcher to reach the 100-strikeout mark as she struck out 104 on the year. The Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. native turned it up a notch in ACC play as she posted a 4-1 record while holding batters to a .198 average.

Jacobs was moved to the outfield before the season started to make room for the hot-hitting Spaulding and made the move seem quite seamless as she added another power option to Papa's lineup. The senior finished the regular season with a .302 average, 20 runs scored, 37 RBIs and a team-high 10 long balls. Jacobs will go down as one of the top run producing players in school history as she ranks second all-time with 142 RBIs, just 13 shy of setting a new school record.

Two years removed from setting the school single season record for wins with 48, head coach Donna J. Papa would be witness to one of the best seasons in school history as Carolina posted a 49-9-1 record in the regular season. Along with the new school record for wins, the Tar Heels also set an ACC record by winning 18 games during the ACC season, including series wins in all seven matchups. Due to her team's success Papa was named the 2008 ACC Coach of the Year for the fourth time in her 23 years as the Tar Heel coach. Papa also garnered the honor in 1996, 1998 and 2000.

The Tar Heels will face their next test on Thursday when they take on Virginia at 3 p.m. in the opening round of the ACC Tournament. Carolina is looking for its first tournament title since the 2001 squad claimed the school's only title.