Miami Volleyball Announces 2004 Schedule

April 21, 2004

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami along with head coach Nicole Lantagne Welch announced the 2004 Hurricane Volleyball schedule Wednesday as the Hurricanes prepare for their inaugural season in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Miami’s 2004 slate will include six NCAA tournament teams, three conference champions and four teams who finished the 2003 season ranked in the top-25 by the American Volleyball Coaches’ Association (AVCA).

“We are really looking forward to next season,” Lantagne Welch said. “We have a very competitive schedule, but I think it’s important to play quality teams throughout the year in order to get better as a team and to reach our goals of making and advancing in the NCAA tournament.

“We return a strong core group of experienced players that will be ready for the challenge,” Lantagne Welch added.

The Hurricanes open the season with a trip across town to face Florida International Sept. 1 prior to hosting the annual Hurricane Invitational at the Knight Sports Complex Sept. 3-4 which will feature Rice, Bowling Green and 2003 NCAA regional semi-finalist Illinois, who finished last season ranked 15th in the nation.

Miami then travels to the Golden State Sept. 10-11 for what should be a tough three-match tournament in Los Angeles, Calif. with Loyola Marymount, who advanced to the NCAA second round in 2003 and finished the season ranked 17th, Washington State and Cincinnati, the 2003 Conference USA Regular Season Champions and NCAA tournament participants.

The Hurricanes conclude the early season tournament schedule in New Orleans, La. Sept. 17-18, as UM will square off with Wisconsin-Milwaukee, SMU and host Tulane.

Miami will write a new chapter in school history Sept. 24 as they play host to in-state rival Florida State in the Hurricanes’ first-ever ACC match followed by match with fellow ACC newcomers, Virginia Tech Sept. 26 in Blacksburg, Va.

“We are thrilled about playing in the ACC next year and it is almost appropriate that we are playing Florida State, a natural rival, in our first conference match,” stated Lantagne Welch.

UM will take on 2003 Atlantic-Sun Champions Central Florida, who advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament, Sept. 27 in Orlando, Fla. before returning to Coral Gables with matches against Wake Forest (Oct. 1) and Duke (Oct. 3).

Following an Oct. 8 contest at Virginia, Coach Lantagne Welch takes the Hurricanes to College Park, Md. in a match-up with defending ACC Tournament Champions Maryland Oct. 9.

Lantagne Welch was a four-year starting setter for the Terrapins from 1990-1993, guiding Maryland to their first-ever ACC Championship in 1990, while earning First-Team All-ACC honors in 1992 and 1993 and finished her playing career as the school’s all-time leader in assists, digs and matches played.

“I’m looking forward to our trip to Maryland and getting the chance to compete against my former coach, Janice Kruger,” Lantagne Welch said. “It will be very special and motivating to showcase our team to one of my mentors.”

The Hurricanes host in-state rival Florida Atlantic Oct. 12 and ACC opponents North Carolina State Oct. 15 and North Carolina Oct. 17 at the Knight Sports Complex.

Following a visit to Tallahassee, Fla. Oct. 20 for a rematch with the Seminoles, the Hurricanes host VT Oct. 24 before traveling to Clemson Oct. 29.

Miami then takes to Atlanta, Ga. Oct. 30 to face 2003 NCAA Regional Finalist Georgia Tech, who finished the 2003 season ranked 8th in the country, followed by matches against Maryland (Nov. 5), Virginia (Nov. 7), at North Carolina (Nov. 12) and at North Carolina State (Nov. 13).

Prior to hosting South Florida Nov. 24 in the regular season finale, the Hurricanes will compete in the 2004 ACC Championships held Nov. 18-21 in Charlottesville, Va.