UM Volleyball Set to Co-Host Miami/FIU Invitational
Sept. 9, 2009
Complete Tournament Notes in PDF Format 
Coral Gables, Fla. – The University of Miami volleyball team prepares to face three 2008 NCAA Tournament participants over the course of the next three days while co-hosting the inaugural Miami/FIU Invitational at the James L. Knight Sports Complex in Coral Gables, Fla.
Miami (5-1) travels across town to play local foe FIU on Thursday, Sept. 10 to begin the four-day event. The Hurricanes then return home for back-to-back days playing host to Middle Tennessee State (Sept. 11) and the University of Albany (Sept. 12). Middle Tennessee advanced to the NCAA Tournament Round of 32 last season, while both FIU and Albany participated in first round action, respectively.
UM is coming off a 3-0 week last week in which they claimed the Hampton Inn and & Suites Northern Colorado Classic championship. Sophomore outside hitter Lane Carico was named Tournament MVP, while classmate Ali Becker and senior Cassie Loessberg was also present on the All-Tournament Team. Loessberg was also selected as a CVU.com (Collegiate Volleyball Update) Top 10 performer from last week.
Miami is currently led by Carico in kills (84), while senior outside hitter Genny Mayhew (53) and junior middle blocker Lici McGee (50) each have eclipsed the 50-kill plateau on the year. McGee leads the Hurricanes with 22 blocks, and Becker is just behind with 21.
Junior setter Katie Gallagher returned to the Hurricanes lineup for the first time last weekend, immediately picking up from last season by registering 123 assists in three matches. Gallagher also provided eight kills, eight blocks and 26 digs. For the Winter Park, Fla. native, her 50-assists and 15-dig match against North Dakota State was the 31st double-double of her career. It was also the 15th match of her career with at least 50 assists.
In addition to all UM matches at the James L. Knight Sports Complex, other matches on the UM campus include Middle Tennessee State vs. Albany (Sept. 11 – Noon); and Albany vs. Florida State (Sept. 13 – Noon).
For a list of matches taking place on the campus of FIU, please locate your internet browser to www.fiusports.com. All matches involving FIU will take place at the U.S. Century Bank Arena.
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.
HURRICANE QUICK HITS:
Quick Hits on FIU…
FIU is coming off a 3-0 weekend in their last outings, winning the Jayhawk Invitational hosted by the University of Kansas. Junior Natalia Valentin was named tournament MVP, while seniors Isadora Rangel and Olga Vergun were selected to the All-Tournament Team. Valentin tallied 124 assists for the weekend, while Vergun and Rangel led FIU in kills with 44 and 34, respectively. Freshman Jovana Bjelica had 26, sophomore Andrea Lakovic had 25 and sophomore Sabrina Gonzalez had 17. Lakovic added a team-best nine blocks over the weekend while freshman Chanel Araujo led the Panthers in digs with 55, a performance which earned her Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Week recognition.
Quick Hits on Middle Tennessee State…
The Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders sit 5-2 on the season after falling in the last match, 3-0, in the championship match of the Blue Raider Bash in Murfreesboro, Tenn. They are led by Izabela Kozon in kills (96), as well as Stacy Oladinni (72). The setter for the Blue Raiders is Leslie Clark, providing a team-best 254 assists and providing defense with 39 digs and 11 blocks.
Quick Hits on Albany…
The University of Albany pulled even for the year at 3-3 after winning all three matches in hosting the UAlbany Volleyball Classic. The Great Danes were an NCAA Tournament participant a year ago, and have faced stiff competition already on the year. Setter Brooke Stanley leads the team with 204 assists and 65 digs as she was crowned Tournament MVP for the Great Danes. Senior outside hitter Valerie Sourbeer tops the Great Danes in kills (59) with Teresa Coppiellie just behind her (56) in that category.
Cassie Setting Records Again…
Senior libero Cassie Loessberg registered a new school record for digs in a three-set match last weekend, pulling in 39 in a 3-0 victory over Eastern Michigan. In posting a new record, she broke her own school record for that category, having previously set the bar at 23 versus UT-Arlington in 2007.
Loessberg Digging up the Charts…
Senior libero/defensive specialist Cassie Loessberg is moving up the charts in Hurricanes volleyball history in several areas, including sets played (9th), assists (9th) and digs (2nd). Loessberg is just 72 digs away from passing Jamie Grass (1,621) for first place all-time.
Mayhew Shooting for 1,000…
Senior outside hitter Genny Mayhew is closing in on 1,000 kills as she now has 949 kills in her career. If she cracks the 1,000-kill plateau, she will be just the fifth UM player all-time to have eclipsed that mark.
Lane Carico Named Tournament MVP…
Miami sophomore outside hitter Lane Carico (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) was selected as the Hampton Inn & Suites Northern Colorado Classic MVP last weekend. In three matches, Carico registered a team-high 44 kills and added 36 digs, while also posting three assists and five blocks (two solo).
Loessberg Beginning to Run…
Dating back to the 2008 campaign, Cassie Loessberg had a stretch of 16 consecutive matches in double-digits for digs until recording just two Prairie View A&M earlier this season. She has now registered four consecutive matches with at least 15 digs, as she tries to begin a new run in the digs category for the `Canes.
