Hurricanes Fall to Duke in Five Games
Oct. 3, 2004
Coral Gables, Fla. – The University of Miami volleyball team fell to ACC rival Duke in five games (30-24,25-30,25-30,30-27,16-18) Sunday afternoon in the Knight Sports Complex. It was the Hurricanes’ first home loss of the season. They are now 6-5 overall and an even 2-2 in ACC play while Duke improves to 13-3 and 4-1 in the ACC.
Senior Valeria Tipiana was three assists away from posting a triple-double. The rightside hitter scorched a match-high 25 kills while registering 19 digs, seven assists and three service aces.
Senior Ashley Youngs and sophomore Jill Robinson recorded double-doubles in the match. Youngs’ 11 kills set a new career-high while her 11 digs matched her previous career dig mark. Robinson registered 59 assists and 17 digs to end the match.
Senior Jamie Grass led all Miami players with 27 digs. Junior Karla Johnson hit 13 kills and two services aces while posting five block assists. Redshirt freshman Ciara Michel posted eight total blocks (2 BS, 6 BA) and 10 kills in the match. Fellow middle blocker redshirt sophomore Francheska Savage also posted two solo blocks while adding four block-assists and 11 kills.
The first game proved to be no contest with Miami taking a safe 30-24 win over the Blue Devils. With the game tied at five, Tipiana went on a four-point run to break the score open. The Hurricanes, who would not relinquish the lead the rest of the game, were powered by 18 total kills and a .227 hitting percentage.
In game two, the Hurricanes faced a fired-up Duke squad. The Blue Devils went on an early seven-point run to give them a 11-2 lead. Two Tipiana service aces brought Miami to within six points but 15 total team errors let the Blue Devils run away with the game and take a 30-25 win.
Game three saw Miami jump to a 6-5 lead before the Blue Devils capitalized on four consecutive Miami errors to take the lead and eventually the game, 30-25.
A regrouped Miami squad took the court in game four. Both teams exchanged leads throughout the game before, with the score tied at 18, a kill by Johnson gave the Hurricanes the push they needed to take the win, 30-27, and force a fifth and deciding game.
Game five saw both teams fight for the lead before Duke, off the strength of a service ace, put the game away, 18-16.
The Hurricanes could not capitalize on five double-digit kill performances and four double-digit dig efforts to earn the win. Errors by both teams kept the match tight with Miami suffering five more errors than Duke’s 33. The ACC foes both finished with hitting percentages below .200.
The Hurricanes continue with ACC action on the road when they travel to Charlottesville, Va. to face Virginia Friday, October 8th at 7:00 pm.
