Volleyball Back on Road at Virginia Tech and Virginia
Oct. 29, 2009
Complete Match Notes in PDF Format 
Coral Gables, Fla. – The University of Miami volleyball team gets back to the road this weekend traveling to Virginia Tech (Oct. 30) and Virginia (Nov. 1) in a pair of key Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) matches in both Blacksburg and Charlottesville, Va.
Miami (13-8, 6-5 ACC) travels to Virginia Tech seeking a different outcome from the last time the two teams met earlier in the year in Coral Gables. UM and Virginia Tech went toe-to-toe on Sept. 27, 2009 with the Hokies pulling out a 3-2 victory in an ACC instant classic. The line score went as follows (with UM scores first): 29-27, 21-25, 25-22, 27-29, 11-15.
However, the `Canes did pull together a great 3-1 win over the Virginia Cavaliers two days prior to that loss against the Hokies.
Last season, Miami traveled to the same weekend slate of games looking to solidify its top spot in the ACC before falling in a five-set match to Virginia, and then later falling in a tough four-setter in Blacksburg to Virginia Tech. Those losses bumped the Hurricanes from a share of first down to fourth place in the ACC at the mid-point of the season, though UM battled back for a tie at third place to finish the conference season.
Miami enters this weekend’s matches having collected three wins in its last four outings–the only loss coming against North Carolina a week ago in Coral Gables.
UM is led by Lane Carico with an ACC-best 349 kills (4.47) and 4.88 points per set. The sophomore outside hitter is also pulling in 3.38 digs per set (264 total) and has collected 30 blocks on the campaign.
Also playing well for the Hurricanes is setter Nrithya Sundararaman. Sundararaman leads the Hurricanes with 543 assists. That number now ranks her eighth all-time at UM for assists in a single season, passing Mallorey James (2001) for the distinction last weekend.
Senior libero Cassie Loessberg continues to blaze the ACC in digs, currently holding a league-best 400 digs to her credit on the campaign. She is averaging 5.13 digs per set while also serving up a team third-best tying performance of 13 aces for the season.
For more information on the University of Miami Volleyball team, please log on to www.hurricanesports.com. nce there, you will find up-to-date news, stats and information regarding the Hurricanes Volleyball program.
Quick Hits on Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech comes into the weekend owning a 16-6 overall record, and holding a 6-5 mark in the ACC. The Hokies, however, are a perfect 10-0 at home this season, and have allowed just two opponents to go five sets in Blacksburg–North Carolina and Arkansas. Virginia Tech is 4-0 in the ACC at home.
The Hokies are led by Felicia Willoughby with 226 kills, as well as Justine Record with 219 kills. Also topping the 100-kill plateau for the Hokies are four other players including Cara Baarendse with 188 kills. The setter position is handled by Erin Leaser with a league-leading 934 assists (10.99 aps). The libero position is charged by Jill Gergen with 345 digs, and Record has 208 digs under her belt; while Willoughby leads the Hokies in blocks with 92 (76 assisted).
Series against Virginia Tech
Miami leads the all-time series between these two one-time BIG EAST foes, now ACC competitors, by an 8-5 count. By virtue of its 3-2 victory earlier this season in Coral Gables, Virginia Tech has now won the last two matches in the series. The last win for UM over Virginia Tech was a 3-2 decision in Coral Gables on Oct. 27, 2007.
Quick Hits on Virginia
The Virginia Cavaliers come into the weekend sporting a 9-13 record, and a 4-7 mark in the league. They are led by the play of Simone Asque and Lauren Dickson. Asque, named recently as the ACC Player of the Week, leads the team with 277 kills, while Dickson has 194 kills. Sydney Hull also has over 100 kills for the Cavs, posting 136 kills while also holding 46 blocks (43 assisted).
Rachel Gray leads the Cavs with 744 assists, and AJ Cushman has served up 30 aces on the campaign. The blocks are handled by Jessica O’Shoney with a team-leading 56 (51 assisted), while digs are collected by libero Brittani Rendina with 208. Behind her in digs is Dickson with 185 to her credit.
Series against Virginia
The University of Virginia leads the all-time series between these two teams by a count of 6-4. However, Miami snapped a two-match losing streak to the Cavaliers earlier this season with a 3-1 triumph in Coral Gables earlier this season. Before that, UM’s last win against the Cavs came on Sept. 21, 2007 in a 3-2 decision.
Last Time vs. Virginia Tech (9/27/09)
Lane Carico collected 18 kills and Ali Becker stamped 13 kills and six blocks, but it wasn’t enough as Virginia Tech held-off Miami in an ACC thriller, 3-2. Virginia Tech used 19 kills and 13 digs from Justine Record to earn the win, while teammates Jennifer Wiker and Felicia Willoughby each had 17 kills.
Last Time vs. Virginia (9/25/09)
Maria Andersson staked a season-high 13 kills and 10 digs for UM, while Lici McGee added 11 kills and three blocks (two assisted) in the Hurricanes victory. The Cavaliers were led by Simone Asque with 16 kills.
On These Dates in History
The University of Miami holds a record of 11-7 all-time on the dates of Oct. 30 and Nov. 1. On matches played on Oct. 30, UM is 2-1, while holding an 8-4 mark in matches played on Nov. 1. The last match played on either date for UM was a 3-0 victory over Boston College back on Oct. 30, 2005 in Coral Gables.
