UM Volleyball Opens Fall Practice

Aug. 8, 2007

CORAL GABLES, Fla. –Head coach Nicole Lantagne Welch and the University of Miami volleyball team held their first official practices of the fall on Wednesday at the Knight Sports Complex in preparation for the upcoming 2007 season.

Led by senior middle blocker Ciara Michel, the Hurricanes will look to bounce back after a disappointing 12-19 campaign last year and return to towards the top of the league standings in 2007.

“It is exciting to get this group back in the gym,” Lantagne Welch said. “We have an extremely young squad but we are very hungry to achieve a lot of success.”

Returning nine letterwinners and welcoming five newcomers to this year’s team, the Hurricanes will practice twice a day the rest of the preseason with the start of the regular season just over two weeks away.

“For just two practices under our belt, we are looking pretty good,” said Lantagne Welch. “I am excited to see how we progress throughout the rest of the preseason.”

The team will host the third annual Alumni Match on Saturday, Aug. 18, welcoming back former players to compete in an exhibition contest before hosting the season-opening Orange and Green Challenge at the Knight Sports Complex. The Hurricanes will welcome Hofstra, Jacksonville and Butler in the round-robin style tournament Aug. 24-25.