History set: Lady Braves win Peach Belt
By Robert Kelley
Sports Editor
This is what UNCP envisioned when they brought Steve Johnson in to be the head coach seven years ago: a Peach Belt Conference title.
With their doubleheader sweep over conference rival North Georgia on April 7, the Braves won their first ever conference title.
This season, the Braves have made school history in overall wins, conference wins and winning streak. That’s not bad considering the Braves were picked to finish eighth in the Peach Belt preseason coaches poll.
“It truly is an unbelievable feeling right now. I am so proud of these girls for what they have accomplished so far that it is really hard to put into words,” Johnson said.
The playoffs are right around the corner, more uncharted territory for the Braves.
“That has been a goal of ours for a long time now and while nothing is guaranteed yet, we should make it. Again, it's hard to actually believe but this team just keeps improving with every game so it's a great honor again,” Johnson said.
The Braves become the first women’s program in UNCP history to win a conference title outright. In 1993, the volleyball team were co-champions. In such a historic season, Johnson is thrilled to go down in the UNCP record books.
“Since it has taken time to build this program up, it certainly is an honofor this team to be the first.
Expectations should be high for the remainder of the season.
“I think right now with the way we are playing, in all areas, and the belief that they have in each other, the expectations are very high. We certainly would love to win the conference tournament since that is the last goal that we have not met, yet. Beyond that, we have to just keep taking it one game at a time and see how far we can go. Certainly, I believe we can do well in the regional tournament but once you make the playoffs, all the teams are good so you can never take anything for granted,” Johnson said.
Last year the Braves went 31-20, the first 30 win campaign since 1988. Now the Braves sit at 39-10 with four games remaining before the start of the Peach Belt Conference Tournament, in which the Braves will be the number one seed.
Johnson doesn’t see the Peach Belt to be weak this year, just young in general and that his team is that good.
“The Peach Belt isn't down this year so much as it is young. This year there are so many freshmen playing key roles for a lot of teams, including ours. Along with our upperclassmen, our freshmen have played at a high level faster than some of the other teams. But in any respects, we've been playing at an extremely high level all year long, and doing so more consistently than some of the other teams,” Johnson said.
There seems to be the building blocks for the Braves to ensure that this will not be a one hit wonder season.
The cornerstones are there. The talent is there. For the first time ever, the championship is there.
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The print edition of The Pine Needle is published 14 times a year during the fall and spring semesters. Updated: Saturday, April 12, 2008 © The University of North Carolina at Pembroke |
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