Hurricanes Defeat FSU in Five Games
Oct. 20, 2004
Tallahassee, Fla. – Senior Valeria Tipiana hit a match-high 23 points and her sixth double-double of the season to lead the University of Miami volleyball team to a 3-2 win over Florida State Wednesday evening at Tully Gymnasium. The Hurricanes, who have been on a four-match tear, improve to 11-6 overall and 6-3 in the ACC.
“We had a great, gutsy team performance,” commented head coach Nicole Lantagne Welch after the match. “It was a great volleyball match. FSU played well but we played better. We fought and groveled to the very end.”
This is the second time this season that the Hurricanes defeated Florida State (12-8, 4-5 ACC) and the first five-game win in six tries this season.
Tipiana added 11 digs, four assists and a service ace.
“Valeria made a big turnaround in the match,” noted Lantagne Welch. “She struggled early because they were containing her. We asked her to do more and she responded brilliantly.”
Junior Karla Johnson also posted a double-digit kill effort with 16 kills on the night. Senior Elizabeth Tyson added eight kills and two service aces. Sophomore setter Jill Robinson dished out 51 assists while posting four block assists. Senior Jamie Grass registered a match-high 16 digs.
“Elizabeth came into the match and provided a spark again. Karla had a solid match and Jill did a nice job running the show, especially in game five.”
The Hurricanes took an early 7-2 lead in the first game before the Seminoles pulled within one point to bring the score to 8-7. Both teams exchanged one point leads throughout most of the game before FSU went on a 3-0 run to take a 18-14 lead. Back-to-back kills by Tipiana and Robinson pulled the Hurricanes to within three.
The Seminoles opened up the scoring with a 9-2 run to bring the score to 25-17 eventually running away with the 30-19 win. The Hurricanes were held to a .103 hitting percentage and 10 errors while the Seminoles hit .333 with only four errors.
Game two started with the Hurricanes scoring the first three points before FSU capitalized on a three-point run to tie the score. The Hurricanes opened up the scoring after being powered by an eight point run, to take a 12-4 lead. FSU battled back to pull within seven, but the Hurricanes kept the Seminoles at bay eventually taking a six point lead into an FSU timeout. It seemed as if the Seminoles would rally after scoring three back-to-back points but a Johnson kill gave the Hurricanes a seven point lead. Senior Ann Gallo’s kill on game-point gave the Hurricanes the 30-21 win. The Hurricanes reversed the results of the previous game, hitting .333 while holding the Seminoles to a .111 hitting percentage.
Florida State took a 7-5 advantage in game three after scoring three unanswered points. The Hurricanes were able to tie the score at nine after a kill by Robinson and added two more points to take a slight 11-10 lead. A block by Robinson and Michel helped the Hurricanes pull ahead by three but the Seminoles tied the score at 14-all. A battle for the lead ensued with each team exchanging one point leads. Florida State stayed ahead by two points and eventually brought the score to 21-18 but a regrouped Hurricanes squad came out of a timeout to score five unanswered points and take a 23-22 lead. A block by Robinson and Savage and a Tyson service ace helped the Hurricanes run away with the game 27-22. The Hurricanes eventually took the game, 30-24. Miami held the Tribe to a -.026 hitting percentage while forcing 14 errors,
The Hurricanes took a 2-1 match lead into game four. A Tipiana kill after a long rally finally put the hurricanes on the board and would eventually tied the score at two. A fired up Seminoles squad were quick to pile on the points and take an 11-7 lead. FSU scored two points to take a six point lead and bring the score to 26-20. The Hurricanes rallied to pull within three but they could not solve the Seminoles who would eventually force a fifth and deciding game after a 30-27 win.
Game five saw both teams battle for the lead with the score tied at three-all. Tipiana served up her first ace of the match to give the Hurricanes a two point lead. Back-to-back kills by Robinson and Johnson gave Miami a 7-4 lead and forced an FSU timeout. The teams traded sides with the Hurricanes winning 8-5. FSU answered with two quick kills to pull within one point but the Hurricanes regained the ball and took an 11-7 lead. FSU tallied three points to pull within three. The Hurricanes eventually took the game 15-10.
The Hurricanes return to action when they take on Virginia Tech Sunday at 1:00 pm in the Knight Sports Complex.
