Hurricanes Sweep past Eastern Michigan, 3-0

Sept. 4, 2009

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Greeley, Colo. – Senior libero Cassie Loessberg set a school-record for digs in a three-set match while teammate Ali Becker supplied a career-high 12 kills Friday evening in helping the University of Miami volleyball team to a 3-0 sweep (25-19, 25-21, 25-21) of Eastern Michigan in the opening match of the Hampton Inn & Suites Tournament in Greeley, Colorado. The tournament is hosted by the University of Northern Colorado at the Butler-Hancock Pavilion.

Miami (3-1) came out strong in the match, using the setting skill of junior Katie Gallagher–suiting up for the first time this season. Freshman Nrithya Sundararaman served in place of Gallagher during last weekend’s Hurricane Invitational.

UM never trailed in the opening set, though the set would become tied seven times–the last at 15-15. The Hurricanes hit a .295 clip (20-7-44) in the opening set, while holding Eastern Michigan to just a .158 performance (9-3-38).

With the first set tied at 15-15, back-to-back kills from senior Genny Mayhew put the `Canes out in front for good at 17-15. Mayhew would close-out the set with a kill (one of her six in the set), giving UM the early 1-0 advantage in the match on the strength of a 25-19 advantage.

The second set saw Miami fall behind early, 10-6; before a kill from sophomore middle blocker Ali Becker sparked a 7-2 run that gave the Hurricanes their first lead of the set, 13-12.

Following an EMU (0-5) timeout, the Eagles used a kill from Rachel Iaquaniello to tie the match, 13-13. But it was Lane Carico providing a huge lift for UM with a kill moments later off an assist from Gallagher pushing the `Canes in front, 14-13.

Carico and Becker teamed for four more UM kills down the stretch before Sundararaman closed out the set with a kill of her own, allowing UM the hard-earned win, 25-21.

Holding a 2-0 edge in the match, Miami had to fight from behind yet again in the third set in order to claim the match victory.

The defensive exploits of Cassie Loessberg were evident as the Sacramento senior claimed 30 digs in the match–nine of which came in the final set. Her 30-dig night was not only the second 30-plus digs performance of her career, but it was also a school-record setting mark for digs in a three-set match. The total surpassed her own previous record of 23 against Clemson during her sophomore season in 2007.

In the third set, UM trailed 10-6 before Gallagher dumped a kill over the net to kickoff a 6-2 run that ended with an Eagles attack error that tied the match for the first time in the set, 13-13. EMU quickly responded with a 3-0 run of their own as Jennifer Swartz posted back-to-back points-off-kill to put the Eagles back out in front, 16-13.

Carico would be the one to answer for the `Canes as she collected seven kills in the final set, including one off Gallagher’s set that pushed UM in front late, 19-18. The Hurricanes efforts were helped in the match by three attack errors in a critical stretch by EMU.

Becker and Gallagher teamed for a pair of blocks to push the UM lead out to a 20-18 mark before the Eagles’ duo of Iaquaniello and Kristen Baker combined for a pair of kills to knot things once again at 20.

With the set tied at 21-all, it was Carico’s timely kill that gave UM the edge, 21-20. Following another kill from Becker, Carico collected a kill and a service ace to close the set and the match, 25-21.

Iaquaniello led all players on the night with 18 kills and five digs in a valiant effort for the Eagles. No other EMU player touched double-digits for kills, but libero Jill Bates helped the defense with 21 digs. Swartz provided seven kills, while setter Ashley Mason collected 30 assists.

Miami was led by Carico’s 16 kills–the third time in four matches this year she’s collected double-figures in that category. Becker, as previously stated, registered a career-high 12 kills in matching a career-high hitting clip of .500 (12-1-22) on the evening.

Katie Gallagher set the offense with 44 assists, five digs and two blocks (assisted). Loessberg’s 30 digs led all players, while Mayhew posted nine kills and nine digs to fall just short of a double-double performance.

Miami will next take on North Dakota State and host Northern Colorado tomorrow back at the Butler-Hancock Pavilion. UM faces NDSU at 3:30 pm, before taking on Northern Colorado at 9 p.m. Both times are written in Eastern Standard Time (EST). Live stats will be available for the Northern Colorado match by visiting www.uncbears.com.

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.