Hurricanes Open 2004 Season at FIU

Aug. 31, 2004

Coral Gables, Fla. – The University of Miami volleyball team will kick off their 2004 season Wednesday night when they travel cross-town to face inner-city rival Florida International at 7 p.m. at Golden Panther Arena.

The Hurricanes return 12 letterwinners from last season’s squad that compiled a 22-9 overall record and a third place finish in the BIG EAST (9-3). Leading the way for Miami will be returning starters Valeria Tipiana, Elizabeth Tyson, Karla Johnson, Jill Robinson and libero Jamie Grass.

UM’s match with the Golden Panthers will also mark Miami’s first match as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

“We’re looking forward to getting out and competing. It’ll be nice to play somebody other than ourselves,” fourth year head coach Nicole Lantagne Welch said.

When asked about the cross-town rivalry with FIU, Lantagne Welch added, “It’s always an intense and fiery competition when we play them. We bring out great volleyball in each other.”

FIU finished the 2003 season with an overall record of 13-16 and 4-10 in the Sun Belt Conference. They enter the match with eight newcomers and seven returnees.