Hurricanes Host Maryland in ACC Match-up
Nov. 4, 2004
Coral Gables, Fla. –
The University of Miami women’s volleyball team will host ACC rival Maryland in ACC action Friday night at 7:00 pm in the Knight Sports Complex.
“We need to pass and run our offense well,” said head coach Nicole Lantagne Welch about Friday’s match against Maryland. “We’re going to have to slow them down at the net. Our blocking is going to be key on Friday.”
The Hurricanes come off two tough losses against Clemson and Georgia Tech last weekend that dropped their record to 12-8 overall and 7-5 in the ACC. They are in a three-way tie with Virginia and Duke for third place in the ACC standings.
Still leading the way for the Hurricanes are senior rightside hitter Valeria Tipiana and sophomore setter Jill Robinson. Tipiana is hitting a team-high 4.79 kills per game for a .337 hitting percentage. Her 0.59 aces per game ranks her first in the ACC and 19th among the NCAA leaders. Robinson is currently second in the ACC with 13.40 assists per game. She is also ranked 15th in the NCAA.
Defensively, redshirt freshman Ciara Michel is second in the ACC in blocks per game (1.39) while senior libero Jamie Grass is fifth on the ACC list with 4.37 digs per game.
As a team, the Hurricanes are third in both hitting percentage (.242) and kills (16.09pg). They are second in the ACC and 22nd in the NCAA in assists per game (15.21).
The Hurricanes lost their first-ever meeting against the Terrapins as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference, 3-2, October 9th.
The Hurricanes led in every statistical category including kills (80), hitting percentage (.223), assists (74), and blocks (13.0). Maryland, however, held Miami to three games with a hitting percentage under .200.
The Terrapins own an 11-11 overall and 6-6 ACC record after defeating Virginia Tech, 3-0, October 29th. Maryland sits at eighth in the ACC and is second in the league in blocks per game (2.98). The Terps are also ranked 23rd in the nation in blocks per game.
Leading the Terps offensively is Sarah Treadwell who averages 3.46 per game. Rachel Wagner is second on the team with 214 kills this season. Her .295 hitting percentage is tops on the team and ranks ninth in the ACC. Aimee Huddleston’s 12.07 assists per game places her seventh in the ACC.
Treadwell also leads Maryland in digs per game (3.72). Stephanie Smith leads with 112 total blocks (20 BS, 92 BA), which places her fourth in the ACC.
As a team, the Terrapins are hitting .206 and averaging 15.22 kills and 17.23 digs per game.
