Durham, N.C. – Malaika Underwood, a four-year standout on the Carolina volleyball team from 1999 to 2002, was named the USA Baseball Sportswoman of the Year after leading the U.S. Women’s Baseball National Team to the gold medal at the 2015 Pan American Games last summer.
A native of San Diego, California, Underwood was a stellar student-athlete in her time at North Carolina. A 5-foor-9 outside hitter, Underwood helped lead the Tar Heels to three straight ACC Championships and to the NCAA Tournament four years in a row. Named the Most Valuable Player of the ACC Tournament her junior year, she completed her senior season by earning Verizon Academic All-District honors and received both an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship and an NCAA Enhancement Scholarship.