Miami Volleyball Set to Host Virginia and Virginia Tech
Sept. 24, 2009
Complete Match Notes in PDF Format 
Coral Gables, Fla. – The University of Miami volleyball team hosts a pair of Atlantic Coast Conference matches this weekend welcoming Virginia and Virginia Tech to the James L. Knight Sports Complex in Coral Gables, Fla. UM hosts Virginia on Friday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m., while the Virginia Tech match is slated for Sept. 27 at 1:30 p.m.
Miami (7-4, 0-1 ACC) is looking to bounce back after dropping consecutive matches at the Seminole Tri-Match last weekend in Tallahassee, Fla. UM began the weekend with a 3-0 setback at the hands of No. 19 Florida State before falling in a heart-breaking 3-2 decision to Notre Dame a day later.
Both UM matches this weekend will impact the ACC race heavily, much as last year’s critical road stretch for the `Canes.
Last season, Miami went to Charlottesville and Blacksburg seeking a chance to move atop the ACC standings, but dropped a couple of close matches. The most critical match was a 3-2 setback at the hands of Virginia after leading the match, 2-0.
The Hurricanes enter the weekend holding the fifth-best hitting percentage in the league at an even 24 percent (.240). Led by senior libero Cassie Loessberg, the `Canes sit atop the league statistics for digs as a team with an average of 15.23 digs per set (594 total).
Loessberg, recently becoming Miami’s all-time leader in digs with 1,640 in her career, leads the ACC with 216 digs (5.54 dps).
Senior outside hitter Genny Mayhew enters the weekend looking to become just the fifth player in Miami history to eclipse the 1,000-kills plateau. The Preseason All-ACC Team member has 997 kills under her belt–good enough to rank her fifth place all-time for kills in school history. She trails Elizabeth Tyson (2001-04) by five kills overall.
Sophomore outside hitter Lane Carico is currently fourth in the league with 138 kills. In just her second year for the `Canes, the Manhattan Beach, Calif. native is already 10th all-time at UM for career kills (507).
After missing the first three matches of the year, junior setter Katie Gallagher has quickly come back to form. She sits third in the ACC for assists per set (10.31) as she has recorded 299 assists in just eight matches. Freshman right side hitter and setter Nrithya Sundararaman has 102 assists, serving as setter for the Hurricane Invitational to begin the season.
Live stats for both matches will be provided through Game Tracker, while the live radio broadcast for both can be accessed by visiting www.wvum.org.
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.
Quick Hits on Virginia…
The Virginia Cavaliers come into the weekend with an even 6-6 record overall, and a 1-0 record in the ACC. They are led by the play of Lauren Dickson and Simone Asque. Dickson has a team-best 149 kills, while Asque is just behind with 127 kills. The setter for Virginia is Rachel Gray, holding 379 assists. Three Cavaliers have 100-or more digs, led primarily by AJ Cushman with 153. Virginia has already defeated in-state rival Virginia Tech in its only other ACC match to this point.
Series against Virginia…
The University of Virginia leads the all-time series between these two teams by a count of 6-3, including winning the last two consecutively. The last UM win came back on Sept. 21, 2007 in a 3-2 decision for the `Canes. Virginia took last year’s meeting in one of the most exciting matches of the year courtesy a 3-2 decision, using the last three sets to earn the come-from-behind victory over the Hurricanes in Charlottesville, Va. Dickson ranks third in the ACC for kills, and Asque enters the weekend seventh.
Quick Hits on Virginia Tech…
Before traveling to Coral Gables, the Virginia Tech Hokies have a meeting at #18 Florida State in Tallahassee, Fla. The Hokies enter the weekend sporting a 10-2 record, and a 0-1 record in the league after a tough loss against in-state foe Virginia. They hold the fourth-best hitting percentage as a team (.259) and are holding opponents to just .155 hitting–third-best in the ACC.
The Hokies are led by Taylor Parrish with 116 kills, and Felicia Willoughby with 111 kills. The setter position is handled by Erin Leaser with a league-leading 463 assists (10.77 aps). The libero position is charged by Jill Gergen with 171 digs; while Willoughby leads the Hokies in blocks with 56 (10 solo).
Series against Virginia Tech…
Miami leads the all-time series between these two one-time BIG EAST foes, now ACC competitors, by an 8-4 count. Before dropping the last meeting with a 3-1 count last season in Blacksburg, Va., the Hurricanes had won three-straight against the Hokies. The last win for UM over Virginia Tech was a 3-2 decision in Coral Gables on Oct. 27, 2007.
Hurricanes Top the League in Digs…
Miami owns 594 digs as a team for an average of 15.23 digs per set. That is the best mark in the ACC to date. The average is high because of Loessberg supplying a league-leading 216 digs thus far. Clemson’s Didem Ege sits second with 211 digs of her own.
On These Dates in History…
The University of Miami is 3-1 all-time in matches played on Sept. 25 and 27, respectively. The Hurricanes last match on either of these dates was probably one of the most important in history–a 3-1 victory over Duke on Sept. 25, 2008 in Durham, N.C. It marked Miami’s first-ever victory over Duke in Durham, and just the second all-time against the Blue Devils.
It’s Becker at the Net…
Sophomore Ali Becker may have tailed off a bit after starting strong for Miami in 2008, but she is back and playing better than ever for the `Canes as a sophomore. The Katy, Texas native is second on the team in blocks (39) while adding a team third-best 82 kills. That goes along with 12 digs from her middle blocker position. Becker is at the net, and making plays for UM.
All in the Family…
While Lane Carico leads the Hurricanes in kills (138) on the year and is the reigning ACC and AVCA East Region Freshman of the Year, her sister has done quite well for herself in volleyball as well. Taylor Carico, a senior setter at the University of Minnesota–formerly a three-time All-Conference performer at the University of Southern California (PAC-10) leads the Golden Gophers in assists (322), while adding 86 digs and 26 blocks. Thus proving, it’s all in the family for volleyball with the Carico sisters.
