Miami Holds Off Maryland in Volleyball, 3-1

Miami Holds Off Maryland in Volleyball, 3-1

Oct. 12, 2008

Box Score

Coral Gables, Fla. – Freshman outside hitter Lane Carico put down 17 kills to lead a quartet of Hurricanes in double figures for kills as the university of Miami claimed a 3-1 victory (24-26, 34-32, 25-22, 25-23) over the visiting University of Maryland on Sunday afternoon in ACC volleyball action at the James L. Knight Sports Complex in Coral Gables, Fla.

Miami (17-2, 5-2 ACC) had to fight for every point on Sunday as the visiting Maryland Terrapins gave them everything they could ask for in a Sunday matinee volleyball matchup in south Florida.

Maryland (5-14, 1-6 ACC) took the first set, 26-24, after UM ran out to a quick 4-0 advantage right from the start. Despite having 10 attack errors in the opening set, the Hurricanes were still within striking distance of the Terrapins late in the set.

The set stood toed at 24 when UM’s Angelica Ellis placed a service ace just out of reach from Maryland’s Brittney grove on the right sideline. But a service error and an attack error charged to the `Canes gave the Terrapins the win in the opener.

The Hurricanes rallied in the second in an exciting match for the crowd of 617.

Once again the `Canes went on top first, 3-0, before an 8-4 run sparked by Maryland’s Michelle Kenning and Lisa Scott tied the score at 14-14. Scott’s kill down the middle put the Terrapins on top for the first time in the set, 15-14.

Miami answered right back with a kill from Carico, aided immediately by back-to-back Terrapin errors, to give the `Canes a 17-15 edge. Maddie Lee pounded down a kill off return and that produced the third tie of the set, 18-18.

An attack error charged to Maryland allowed the Orange and Green to surge ahead, 22-19, before Kenning and teammate Katie Usher pulled the lead to a tie once again at 23-23.

The Terrapins served for set-point five times before the Hurricanes took the lead back at 30-29. Miami’s Carico punched in a kill to give her squad a 33-32 edge before the 11th attack error of the set was produced by Maryland to give UM the win, tying the match at 1-1.

Miami trailed late in the third set, 20-18, before s furious rally by the `Canes–headed by Carico, put UM back in position to win, 21-21. Back-to-back errors by the Terrapins put UM up, 23-21 before Ellis smashed a kill to end the set, moving UM out in front in the match, 2-1.

In the fourth set, a 6-0 run by Maryland allowed the Terrapins to erase a 15-9 deficit and earn their first lead of the set, 16-15. In the run, Maryland’s Scott had two kills and Sharon Strizak a service ace.

The Orange and Green would hold off the charge before Carico and Ariell Cooke put down consecutive kills to put UM back up, 22-19. A kill from Ashley Woods, Ellis and Carico each allowed UM to capture the win, 25-23.

In the win, UM suffered through 25 attack errors (season-high) while recording a season second-best 70 digs.

Maryland hit a .213 clip (64-27-174) in the match, while UM had .234 (64-25-167) as a counter.

The Terrapins were led by three players in double-digits for kills, most notably Maddi Lee’s match-high 18. That was followed by Usher (13) and Kenning (10). Hayley Hanson and Strizak each had 26 assists as setter, and Bethany Springer anchored the defense with 31 digs.

Miami leaned on Carico for a season second-best 17 kills and gobbled up 17 digs to notch her ninth double-double of the year. Ellis was right behind her with a career-high 13 kills and six blocks (five assists). Genny Mayhew and Ashley Woods each collected 10 kills, respectively, while each also combined for three blocks assists a piece. Mayhew also pulled in 14 digs on defense for her seventh double-double of the campaign.

Setter Katie Gallagher had a season-best 55 assists with a career-high tying four blocks (assisted). Cassie Loessberg added a team-high 19 digs as the libero/defensive specialist.

The Hurricanes get back to action on Friday, Oct. 17 when they host ACC opponent North Carolina State at the James L. Knight Sports Complex at 7 p.m.