Miami Routs Wake Forest, 3-0
Oct. 1, 2004
Coral Gables, Fla. – The University of Miami volleyball team completed their fifth three game sweep of the season when they defeated ACC rival Wake Forest, 3-0 (30-24, 30-20, 30-19), at the Knight Sports Complex Friday evening. The Hurricanes improved their record to 6-4 overall and 2-1 in the ACC.
“This was a complete team effort,” said head coach Nicole Lantagne Welch. “They played outstanding. Our offense was very much in sync. We also handled the ball very well and did what we needed to do to get on the ball.”
Senior Valeria Tipiana, junior Karla Johnson and redshirt sophomore Francheska Savage each posted double-digit kills in the three-game match. Tipiana registered her second double-double of the season with match-high 15 kills and 10 digs. The rightside hitter also recorded a match-high three service aces. Johnson posted the match’s highest hitting percentage (.611) with 11 kills on 18 swings and no errors. Savage also tallied 11 kills on 19 attempts while recording a match-high four total blocks (1 BS, 3 BA).
Senior Ashley Youngs had a season-high eight kills and 11 digs; three kills shy of a double-double. Classmate Jamie Grass tallied a match-high 14 digs. Sophomore Jill Robinson turned in her fourth double-double of the season with a 44 assist, 10 dig performance.
“Jamie Grass made some awesome digs,” added Lantagne Welch. “She did very real, especially against their big gun.”
The Hurricanes came out in the first game with an early 4-1 lead before the Demon Deacons pulled within one after a Miami service error, to make the score 9-8. Wake Forest could not take the lead, however, and fell further behind. The Hurricanes put the game away after a Tipiana kill gave Miami a 30-24 win. As a team the Hurricanes hit a .405 hitting percentage while forcing Wake Forest to commit eight errors.
Game Two saw both teams exchange early leads before Wake Forest took a 12-10 lead. Miami regained the lead after a three point run but Wake Forest forced a tie to make the score 17-all. The Hurricanes pulled away after Robinson went on an eight point tear, highlighted by two service aces, to help Miami take the game, 30-20. The Hurricanes held the Demon Deacons to a .132 hitting percentage while registering a match-high .421 hitting percentage.
In game three, consecutive service aces by Tipiana gave the Hurricanes a three point lead. Wake Forest tied the score at six but could not overtake Miami, who at one point led by as many as eight points. UM closed the game out with an 11 point lead to take the game, 30-19, and seal their sixth win of the season. Miami held Wake Forest to only eight kills for a -.056 hitting percentage and forced 10 Demon Deacons errors.
As a team the Hurricanes recorded a .381 hitting percentage. Defense was the key to the match with the Hurricanes posting 51 total digs as opposed to Wake Forest’s 32.
The Hurricanes return to ACC action Sunday afternoon when they take on Duke in the Knight Sports Complex for a 1:00 pm start.
