UM Travels to Wake Forest and Duke for ACC Matches

Oct. 7, 2009

Complete Match Notes in PDF Format

Coral Gables, Fla. – After splitting last weekend’s ACC matches with Clemson and Georgia Tech, the University of Miami volleyball team takes to the road this week for a critical ACC road swing at Wake Forest (Oct. 8) and Duke (Oct. 9) in a pair of “Old North State” showdowns.

UM (9-6, 2-3 ACC) is seeking the opportunity to step above the .500 mark in the ACC this week, and will need a sweep of Wake Forest and ACC-unbeaten Duke to do so. Head coach Nicole Lantagne Welch, enjoying in her ninth year at the helm of the UM volleyball program, is seeking her 75th ACC win this week, currently holding 74 career ACC wins in Coral Gables.

Last year, Miami knocked off Duke for the first time in Durham before then falling at Wake Forest in a stunning loss. Wake Forest was the only team to sweep the Hurricanes in league play last season.

UM is currently led by Lane Carico leads the conference in both kills (243) and kills per set (4.19). Her 36 kills against Clemson and 30 against Georgia Tech are the top-two performances in the ACC this season, and her 83 attacks against Clemson and 72 against Georgia Tech are also the two best marks in the league.

Carico was selected as the ACC and CVU.com Player of the Week this week after helping the Hurricanes to a 1-1 record last weekend in Coral Gables, Fla. Carico is currently atop the league with 243 kills (4.19 kps).

Setter Nrithya Sundararaman has stepped in nicely at that position to create a team second-best 307 assists, while middle blockers Ali Becker and Lici McGee are at the net for a combined 113 total blocks between them. Cassie Loessberg continues to lead the ACC from her libero position with a league-leading 316 digs (5.45 dps).

The Hurricanes bounced back from tough consecutive five-set losses to take down previously ACC-unbeaten Georgia Tech at home last weekend. The `Canes hope to keep that momentum alive when they travel to both the Triad and Triangle this weekend.

Live stats for the Duke match can be accessed by clicking here, and then clicking on the appropriate link.

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 Wake Forest
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons come into Thursday night’s match sporting just a 6-10 overall record, but holding a 4-1 record in ACC play. After starting the season 0-10, the Demon Deacons are surging, winning six consecutive matches–including four conference matches. Those ACC wins include 3-1 wins over Virginia, Virginia Tech and Maryland, respectively.

WFU is led by five players who have topped 100 kills on the year, most notably Kadijah Fornah (145) and Carlin Salmon (134). Setter Kelsey Jones is leading the way in assists with 497, and libero Abby Miller leads the defensive charge with 218 digs. Salmon is the leader in blocks, collecting 60 (50 assisted) on the campaign.

Series Against Wake Forest
Miami leads the all-time series between these two schools by the narrowest of margins, 5-4. Wake Forest swept the Hurricanes last season, both coming by 3-0 decisions. The last UM win was a 3-0 victory back on Nov. 3, 2007.

Quick Hits on Duke
Duke is currently 14-2 on the year, and a perfect 5-0 in ACC (the only remaining unbeaten team in league play). Of the Blue Devils two losses, one came at the hands of top-ranked and defending national champion Penn State. Since that loss, Duke has rolled off six consecutive wins.

The Blue Devils are led by Becci Burling and Sophia Dunworth, each with 143 kills on the year. Burling also has a team-leading 56 total blocks (49 assisted). Behind them is Rachael Moss with 125 kills. The assists are handled by Kellie Catanach, currently leading the ACC with 569. The libero for the Blue Devils is Claire Smalzer, topping the team with 152 digs.

Series Against Duke
Duke leads the all-time series against the Hurricanes by a count of 7-3. Last season, Miami swept the Blue Devils for the first time, and collected their first win over Duke since Dec. 6, 2002 as part of the NCAA Tournament. UM swept the Blue Devils at home, while taking a 3-1 win in Durham.

Carico Named ACC & CVU.com Player of the Week
Lane Carico was named this week’s ACC Volleyball Player of the Week (Oct. 5-11), as well as CVU.com National Player of the Week announced this week. In two matches last weekend, Carico totaled 66 kills for a 6.60 kills per set average, a .303 hitting percentage, 33 digs for a 3.30 digs per set average, one service ace, and two total blocks.

Williamson Makes a Career Out of It
Sophomore outside hitter Christine Williamson set career-highs in back-to-back matches last weekend against Clemson and Georgia Tech. Williamson recorded 10 kills against the Tigers, then bested that mark with 14 smashes against the Yellow Jackets.

Carico Sets School Records
Sophomore Lane Carico shattered two school records in two matches for the Hurricanes last weekend. She eclipsed the UM school record for kills in a match with 36 coming against Clemson on Friday, Oct. 2. Carico bested the old mark of 31 previously set by Karla Johnson (vs. Wake Forest – 10/22/05). She also set a new record at UM for points in a match, posting 37.5 against Clemson, adding a service ace and a block assists to go along with her 36 kills. Carico would also break the school record for attacks in a match with 83 against the Clemson Tigers.

Two days later, Carico set yet another school record in becoming the first player in UM history to register back-to-back 30-kill performances, picking up an even 30 in a 3-2 victory over Georgia Tech.

ACC Double Trouble
ACC teams have combined for 121 double-doubles this season. NC State leads with 19 double-doubles, and is followed by Clemson with 17, and Miami with 13. Miami sophomore outside hitter Lane Carico has recorded a double-double in five straight matches, the longest streak in the ACC this season.

On These Dates in History
On the dates for Oct. 8 and 9 throughout UM volleyball history, the Hurricanes hold a combined record of 6-3 overall. For matches played on Oct. 8, Miami is 4-1, with the last match being a 3-0 defeat to North Carolina in 2005 in Coral Gables. For Oct. 9 matches, UM is an even 2-2, with the last match played being a 3-2 setback at Maryland in 2004.