Miami Volleyball Back In Action
March 2, 2011
Coral Gables, Fla. – The University of Miami volleyball team is back in action at the James L. Knight Sports Complex, beginning spring practices for 2011 under the direction of head coach Nicole Lantagne Welch. UMiami will compete four times in the spring, including the Fiesta on Siesta Key Beach Volleyball Tournament.
“The spring season is about making changes to better our individual players and overall team play,” said Lantagne Welch. “We have heard a lot from our players about what they want to get to, and now it is time for action.”
Miami finished the 2010 season with a record of 23-9, the second 20-win season in the last three years for Lantagne Welch and her staff of Felix Hou and Laura Kuhn. The `Canes finished tied for third place in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a league record of 13-7 – the second time in three years they have finished amongst the top three positions in the final league standings.
That and much more allowed the Hurricanes to advance to their second NCAA Tournament in as many years, taking part in the Bloomington [Ind.] Regional and facing host Indiana University. It was the first time in school history that UMiami advanced to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments.
Junior outside hitter Lane Carico was named to the All-ACC Team for the third consecutive year after becoming the first player in UM history to register 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in a career. With that distinction, she later became the school’s first and only AVCA All-American. Fellow junior Katie Gallagher earned All-AVCA East Region honors, currently second place in school history for career assists.
Lantagne Welch and her staff will compete in four events this spring, including the annual Fiesta on Siesta Key Beach Volleyball Tournament to close the campaign.
The team will practice through April 16 at the James L. Knight Sports Complex, as well as utilizing the beach volleyball courts on campus to prepare for the Fiesta on Siesta Key.
Miami will host cross-town opponent FIU on Saturday, March 12, at 10 a.m., inside the James L. Knight Sports Complex to open the spring season. After that, UM travels to Orlando for a one-day tournament hosted by UCF on Saturday, March 26. A tentative date for a match is set for Apr. 9, but no opponent has been announced at this time.
The Fiesta on Siesta Key, an event in which the Hurricanes have performed very well over the last few years, will take place in Siesta Key, Fla., on Saturday, April 16. That will serve as the final spring event for the `Canes.
“We have the opportunity for the next six weeks to be together most days, and it is time for each player to raise their level an entire notch,” continued Lantagne Welch. “We are fortunate to have a large returning core to work with and to challenge each other daily. We look forward to competing four times this spring – which will help show us how we are improving and where we still need more progress.”
For a complete list of spring events and times for the Hurricanes volleyball team, please contact Bryan J. Harvey (bharvey@miami.edu) in the UMiami Office of Sports Media Relations.
For more information on the University of Miami volleyball team, please log on to HurricaneSports.com. Once there, you will find up-to-date news, stats and information regarding the Hurricanes volleyball program.
You can keep up-to-date with all UM Athletics via twitter at Twitter.com/HurricaneSports. You can also become a fan of the ‘Canes on Facebook at Facebook.com/MiamiHurricanes.
Miami Volleyball Spring Match Date
Saturday, March 12 – vs. FIU at 10 a.m. (Coral Gables, Fla.)
Saturday, March 26 – at UCF Spring Tournament (Orlando, Fla.)
Saturday, April 9 – TBA (Coral Gables, Fla.)
Saturday, April 16 – Fiesta on Siesta Key (Siesta Key, Fla.)
