Volleyball Returns Home to Host Wake Forest and Duke
Nov. 5, 2009
Complete Match Notes in PDF Format 
| Requested Book List in PDF Format
Coral Gables, Fla. – The University of Miami returns home this weekend for a pair of matches against Wake Forest (Nov. 6) and Duke (Nov. 8) at the James L. Knight Sports Complex. UM (14-9, 7-6 ACC) is locked in a log-jam amidst the middle of the Atlantic Coast Conference standings with Clemson, North Carolina, Wake Forest and Virginia Tech, all battling for a share of fourth place.
Miami enters the weekend seeking its first season series sweep of Wake Forest since 2005, while looking for the first win of the year against Duke, after sweeping the Blue Devils in 2008 for the first time in school history.
At home this season, the Hurricanes are hitting a .236 clip (566k-220e-1466ta) while holding opponents to a .206 hitting mark. Senior outside hitter Maria Andersson has collected 22 of her team-high 28 service aces at home, as well as five Hurricanes players holding above a .250 hitting mark inside the James L. Knight Sports Complex.
For the fifth consecutive week, sophomore outside hitter Lane Carico leads the ACC in kills with 382, averaging 4.44 kills per set. Freshman setter Nrithya Sundararaman leads the `Canes in assists while ranking ninth in the league with 624 (7.26 aps).
Senior libero Cassie Loessberg continues to anchor the Hurricanes defense with a league-leading 5.03 digs per set average (433 total). She has 10 matches with 20-or more digs on the year after collecting 23 versus Virginia last weekend in Charlottesville.
During the match against Duke, the University of Miami Athletic Department will be hosting a book drive benefitting South Florida Urban Ministries and at-risk middle school students. The books will specifically be donated to the provisional classes of the Junior League of Miami. Junior League members will be present at the match with bins accepting the book donations throughout the event.
While all kinds of books will be accepted, a complete list of requested books can be viewed by clicking here.
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
Wake Forest (9-15, 7-6 ACC) is coming off a pair of victories last weekend against Maryland and Boston College. Carlin Salmon and Kadija Fornah lead the Deacons offensively, as Salmon has put away 200 kills and is hitting .222 while Fornah tops the squad with 224 kills and 2.77 kps. Andrea Beck is hitting a team-best .271 with 195 kills. Salmon and Beck also lead the team with 87 and 68 total blocks, respectively. Salmon is averaging 0.98 blocks per set and has notched seven or more blocks three times this year.
Junior setter Kelsey Jones has really had a remarkable year for missing the entire summer after recovering from hip surgery. Jones did not even know if she would be ready to start the season but she was, and has had a solid season. She is averaging 10.08 assists per set, which is fifth-best in the conference and her nine double-doubles are tied for fourth-most in the ACC.
Series against Wake Forest
Miami leads the all-time series between these two schools by a narrow count of 6-4. Though Wake Forest swept the series against the `Canes in 2008, both coming by 3-0 decisions, Miami took this year’s earlier meeting in Winston-Salem with a 3-1 triumph. It was the first win for UM over the Demon Deacons since 2007.
Quick Hits on Duke
Duke (21-4, 11-2 ACC) enters the weekend bringing a five-match win streak into its important Florida road trip. That streak includes back-to-back 3-0 sweeps over Maryland and Boston College and a pair of tough 3-2 road wins over Clemson and Georgia Tech. The Seminoles rank fourth nationally with a .303 team hitting percentage, while Miami boasts a .239 clip which ranks fourth in the ACC.
The Blue Devils have held all but two opponents – No. 1 Penn State and No. 16 Florida State – to a sub-.300 hitting percentage this season and have not allowed any of their past five opponents to hit over .180.
Series against Duke
Duke leads the all-time series against the Hurricanes by an 8-3 margin. Duke took a 3-0 victory over UM in the only other meeting this season between the two schools, that contest taking place in Durham, N.C. However, Miami swept the Blue Devils for the first time in a season series in 2008, collecting its 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.
Last Time vs. Wake Forest (10/8/09)
Lane Carico had a match-high 22 kills while Christine Williamson and Lici McGee added 14 to help lead the University of Miami volleyball team past ACC foe Wake Forest, 3-1 (25-20, 25-15, 24-26, 25-18) at Reynolds Gym in Winston-Salem, N.C. Christine Williamson had a career-high tying 14 kills, matching her output from the last outing against Georgia Tech. McGee matched Williamson’s effort with a career-high 14 kills and two block assists. Ali Becker also touched double-digits in kills for the sixth time this year with 12 kills and a match- and career-best 10 blocks.
Last Time vs. Duke (10/9/09)
Duke’s Rachael Moss stamped 19 kills and Becci Burling supplied another 14 to lead homestanding Duke University past the University of Miami, 3-0 (25-22, 25-17, 25-23) at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C. Miami was led by Carico’s 15 kills and 13 digs, continuing her double-double streak to seven consecutive matches in a losing effort. It was her ninth double-double of the year, appropriately. Williamson continues to swing a hot hand collecting eight kills, while McGee added six kills and four blocks (assisted). Sundararaman had 29 assists and three blocks, and libero Cassie Loessberg pitched in on defense with a team-high 15 digs.
On These Dates in History
Miami has played just five matches all-time on the dates of Nov. 6 and Nov. 8 throughout the history of the program. UM holds an overall mark of 3-3 all-time, with a 2-1 record in matches played on Nov. 6 … and a 1-2 record on Nov. 8. The last match played on either of these dates was a 3-2 setback at the hands of Pittsburgh on Nov. 8, 2002.
