Volleyball Opens ACC Season with 3-1 Win over FSU
Sept. 19, 2008
Coral Gables, Fla. – A near-capacity crowd of 834 was on hand at the James L. Knight Sports Complex Friday night to witness redshirt sophomore Lici McGee collect a career-high 11 blocks (seven assists) and freshman Lane Carico tally a season-high 16 kills to lead the University of Miami over visiting Florida State University, 3-1 (23-25, 25-19, 25-22, 31-29) in an ACC volleyball match in Coral Gables, Fla. In the process, the Hurricanes continue their undefeated season (11-0), and extend the second-longest winning streak in school history at 13 matches.
After dropping the first set to the Seminoles (8-3, 0-1 ACC), Miami stepped it up in the last three sets.
The Hurricanes and Seminoles went toe-to-toe in the second set as the lead never extended above a one-point margin for the `Canes until a service ace by Angelica Ellis put UM ahead, 10-8. Junior outside hitter Genny Mayhew netted one of her 13 kills in the match to extend the Miami advantage at 12-9.
Three consecutive attack errors down the stretch by the Seminoles allowed the Hurricanes to take the second set, 25-19. Junior libero Cassie Loessberg–second all-time in school history for digs, served down the stretch for the `Canes.
In the third set, Miami (11-0, 1-0 ACC) used back-to-back attack errors by FSU to lead 15-13 at the midway point before the `Noles rallied.
FSU’s Nikki Barber collected a service ace and teammate Stephanie Neville had one of her 12 kills on the night to knot the score at 22.
Redshirt freshman Christine Williamson entered the set for the first time in the match and produced instant offense off the bench as she collected a dig and a kill to put the Hurricanes up 23-22. Angelica Ellis served the last two points of the set with a kill from McGee and Williamson for the 25-22 win.
Miami held Florida State to just eight kills in the third set while FSU committed six errors.
With the Orange and Green up two sets to one in the match, FSU once again rallied behind the play of Neville and teammate Jordana Price to start the set up 6-3. The Seminoles would extend the lead to four points when the `Canes committed one of their nine (9) errors in the set.
With FSU up 10-7, UM’s Maria Andersson served three points for the `Canes with the help of kills from Carico and Mayhew. Miami would finally tie the score (12-12) for the first time since 1-1 after a service ace from Carico–her only ace of the match.
A 4-0 run with the assistance of back-to-back blocks from McGee, tying the third-highest total for blocks in a match, allowed the `Canes to go on top, 17-13.
A service ace from FSU’s Lauren Richardson pulled the score even at 19-19 before Miami’s Carico collected another kill to put the `Canes back on top. Miami would go on a 3-0 run following kills from sophomore setter Katie Gallagher and Mayhew to lead 23-20.
This rivalry wouldn’t be the same without a comeback, and that’s exactly what the Seminoles produced when a kill from Rachael Morgan sparked a 4-0 run for the `Noles to go out in front, 24-23. Serving for set-point, FSU was unable to stop Miami’s Angelica Ellis as she put down a kill in the front of the net to knot the set, 24-24.
FSU would serve for set-point four times until Miami finally took the lead at 29-28 behind a kill from Carico.
A kill from Ellis finally ended the match and gave the Orange and Green the win.
FSU was led on the night by Price’s 17-kill performance (match-high), as well as Neville (12) and Morgan (10). Ashlee Moon led the defense for the `Noles with a match-high 29 digs while teammate Richardson added 11 digs.
Miami was led by Carico’s 16 kills and 13 digs–the fourth time she’s collected a double-double this season. Behind her was Mayhew (13 kills and 13 digs) posting her fourth double-double of the year. McGee collected 10 kills to give her consecutive matches with double-digit kills. Gallagher set-up the offense with 39 assists, and Loessberg led all Miami performers in defense with 14 digs.
Andersson pitched in with 11 digs and Gallagher added 11 digs to give her a double-double as well.
As a team, the `Canes were just two blocks shy of setting a new all-time match-high in blocks as they posted 17 as a team.
The Hurricanes (11-0, 1-0 ACC) out-hit their opponent for the 11th consecutive match this season, and held their opponent to a sub-.200 hitting percentage for the ninth match of the year. The Seminoles were held to .195 in the match, while the Hurricanes registered a percentage of .213 (56 kills / 22 errors / 160 attacks).
Miami takes to the road tomorrow night for the first of five (5) consecutive road matches beginning in nearby Boca Raton against south Florida rival Florida Atlantic for a non-conference match-up at 7 p.m. Live stats will be available through Gametracker at www.hurricanesports.com.
