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University of North Carolina Athletics
2017 First Look: Defensive Specialists
August 22, 2017 | Volleyball
CHAPEL HILL – The Tar Heels will have a young group anchoring the back row, featuring true freshmen Maddie Grace Hough and Sehrena Hull, sophomore Mia Fradenburg and junior Casey Jacobs. With the graduation of Sheila Doyle, the libero position is up for grabs in 2017, with all four vying for a shot to play the key defensive role. Fradenburg has emerged in the offseason as the front-runner for the job, but all four could also see action as serving specialists or defensive substitutes, while Hull, who played outside hitter in high school, could find herself in the offensive rotation as well.
Head Coach Joe Sagula on the defensive specialists:
"I'm very pleased and intrigued with what our defensive specialists look like. We knew Mia would be good, but I think the fact that MG and Sehrena are playing well, and you've got a veteran in Casey, it really makes things a lot better for us. After seeing them at the Blue and White Match, I think they're not going to play like freshmen. Typically we've had good defensive players, and we're maintaining that level. Yes, we lost our libero, Sheila Doyle, but we haven't dropped a notch. The role of the libero is always so important, much more important than people realize, and I think we're going to be fine. We're still going to be really young there, so we're just going to keep getting better and better."
Casey Jacobs – Jr. – 5-8 – Cardiff, Calif.
- Played in 25 matches (45 sets) over her first two seasons, including 20 appearances as a sophomore
- Used primarily as a serving specialist and defensive sub, she saw action at libero in two matches on opening weekend in 2015
- Has totaled 28 digs, four assists and three service aces
Mia Fradenburg – So. – Durham, N.C. – Cardinal Gibbons
- Appeared in 15 matches (26 sets) as a true freshman
- Graduated from high school early to train with UNC the Spring of 2016, helping her to earn the role of serving specialist on opening day of 2016
- Totaled 13 digs, two assists and an ace last season
- Served up an ace against Georgia Southern in her first career match
Maddie Grace Hough – Fr. – 5-3 – Charlotte, N.C.
- 2016 South Charlotte Weekly Player of the Year
- Led Covenant Day School to back-to-back state runner-up finishes as an underclassman
- Transferred to Providence Day School as a junior and played in all-but-one match over her two seasons
- 2015 all-conference and all-state, while earning a spot on the Charlotte Observer's NC Finest list as a junior
- Totaled 134 aces, 1,113 digs, 79 assists and 46 kills over her high school career, including 63 aces and 488 digs as a senior
Sehrena Hull – Fr. – 5-7 – Mooresville, N.C.
- Played three seasons at Mooresville High before transferring to Davidson Day as a senior
- Averaged 11.4 kills, 10.9 digs and 3.7 aces per match at MHC
- Hit .460 with 576 kills, 720 digs and 192 aces as a senior to lead DDS to the 2016 N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association 2A State Championship
- 2015 Mooresville Weekly Player of the Year
