Miami Volleyball Set for Start of 2010 Season
Aug. 5, 2010
Coral Gables, Fla. – The University of Miami volleyball team is set to begin the 2010 season on Sun., Aug. 8, entering the first official practice of the season at the James L. Knight Sports Complex in Coral Gables, Fla.
Entering her 10th year at the helm of the Hurricanes volleyball program in Coral Gables, head coach Nicole Lantagne Welch returns nine letterwinners, including four starters, from the 2009 season in which UM advanced to the NCAA Tournament [Gainesville Regional]. The `Canes finished the season 18-13 overall, while tying for fifth in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) with a record of 11-9.
“We are certainly thrilled to be starting off our 2010 season,” expressed Lantagne Welch. “We have a special group of student-athletes, and the combination of returning a great deal of experience in many key positions, with the addition of a talented freshman class, is exciting. We can’t wait to get to work as one group and start progressing to where we know we can be.”
One of the four starters back for the Hurricanes is senior middle blocker Lici McGee (Warr Acres, Okla.) who ended the 2009 season ranked seventh in the ACC in blocks (117), while finishing second on the UM squad for total points (312) with 371 kills added to her 117 total blocks.
Another key starter back for the `Canes is two-time All-AVCA East Region and All-ACC performer junior outside hitter Lane Carico (Manhattan Beach, Calif.). Carico, a 2009 AVCA All-America honorable mention student-athlete – in addition to being a two-time All-ACC Academic Team member – led the ACC a season ago in kills (506), while leading UM in kills per set average 4.36). She currently holds records for kills in a single-season by both a freshman – finishing with 369 in 2008, and a sophomore with her total from the 2009 campaign.
Sophomore setter Nrithya Sundararaman (Naperville, Ill.) and redshirt junior setter Katie Gallagher (Winter Park, Fla.) return to the lineup as well for the `Canes. Last year, Sundararaman led the `Canes with 934 assists (8.05 per set) ending the campaign ninth in the league in that department. After a stellar rookie season, she has already moved her name to fourth all-time at UM for career assists. Gallagher, who is second all-time at UM for career assists (2,744) was granted a medical hardship waiver from the 2009 season, and is prepared and ready for 2010.
UM welcomes seven newcomers to this year’s class. Those incoming freshmen include Hannah Coleman (Poquoson, Va.), Julia Giampaolo (Torrington, Conn.), Taylor Hollins (Long Beach, Calif.), Alexandria Johnson (Tallahassee, Fla.), Ryan Shaffer (San Jose, Calif.), Mariel Schofield (Ijamsville, Md.) and Emani Sims (Glenview, Ill.). All are expected to contribute greatly for Miami this season.
A complete season preview, including a breakdown of all positions and the 2010 schedule will be available soon. The complete 2010 schedule can be accessed by clicking here.
Tickets for individual home matches may be purchased at the James L. Knight Sports Complex the day of the match for just $5 (adults) and $3 (kids).
You can follow all University of Miami Hurricanes athletics on Twitter by visiting http://api.twitter.com/hurricanesports.
For more information on the University of Miami volleyball team, please log on to www.hurricanesports.com. Once there, you will find up-to-date news, stats and information regarding the Hurricanes volleyball program.
