Miami Volleyball Sweeps Coastal Carolina, 3-0
Davidson, N.C. – (www.hurricanesports.com) – The Miami women’s volleyballteam swept Coastal Carolina in its second match of the Davidson (NC) Tournamenton Saturday, September 1st, 3-0. The Hurricanes improved to (1-1) on the 2001season, enjoying the program’s first win in 19 years. The Hurricanes are fieldinga varsity volleyball team for the first season since 1981.
NicoleLantagne recorded her first head coaching victory in the Hurricanes’ secondmatch of the season. “It was extremely important to get this first win under ourbelts,” said Lantagne. “I am proud of this group, both in their performance lastnight and their effort today. We were so composed and came back in so many games.It has been a great effort from a young group.”
“Today, I felt KristiSprinkel really led the team. She’s the senior out on the court and the timeswe were down she took charge and the team followed her.”
Starting for Miami in the winning effort were senior middle blocker KristiSprinkel (Laguna Beach, CA), junior outside hitter Marcella Gamarra (Medellin,Colombia) and freshmen ElizabethTyson (Jacksonville, FL), JamieGrass (Manhattan Beach, CA) ValeriaTipiana (Lima, Peru) and SandraTotten (Thermal, CA).
Ahead for most of the first game, the Hurricanes survived a late surge by CoastalCarolina to win 30-27. The Lady Chants were 18-13 in 2000 and compiled an 11-3conference record, finishing second in the Big South Conference.
In the second game, down 18-23, Miami went on a 12-1 run enroute to a 30-24 victory.
“We took a time-out and we talked about being more aggressive,” said Lantagneabout the run. “After that, we served tougher — Kristi was dominant at the netand it gets contagious when you have some of them start getting after it.”
Miami would go on to win the third game, 30-20 with the match point being scoredon a kill by junior outside hitter MarcelaGamarra. Gamarra again led the team with 19 kills with no errors for an impressive.463 attack percentage. JamieGrass had 40 assists and ElizabethTyson had a team-high 22 digs in the match.
The Hurricanes face American (1-0) at 4:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon to completeits Davidson Tournament schedule.
“American has a lot of big and strong girls — they have a size advantage overour team,” remarked Lantagne. “They have a power game so we’re going to have tobe very athletic and use a little finesse to minimize the size that they have.”
Miami opens at home against Long Island at 2 p.m. on Friday, September 7th atthe Knight Sports Complex on the UM campus. The Hurricanes host Long Island, Woffordand Alabama-Birmingham in the inaugural Hurricane Invitational.
For ticket information for Hurricanes volleyball home matches, contact the UMTicket Office at 1-800-GO-CANES.
