Hurricanes Hold Off Terrapins in 3-2 Win
Nov. 5, 2004
Coral Gables, Fla. – – Sophomore setter Jill Robinson surpassed the 2,000 career assists mark while pacing the Hurricanes to a 3-2 (30-22, 30-18, 20-30, 21-30, 15-7) win over ACC rival Maryland Friday evening at the Knight Sports Complex. With the win, the Hurricanes improve to 13-8 overall and 8-5 in ACC play.
Robinson’s 55-assist performance set her career mark to 2,024 total assists. She becomes the first Miami player to reach 2,000 assists and sets a new Miami career assists record. Robinson was one dig shy of a double-double after registering nine digs. She also added two block assists.
Three Hurricane players recorded double digit kill efforts in the match. Junior Karla Johnson hit a match-high 20 kills against the Terrapins to go along with her nine digs, one solo block and three block assists. Senior Elizabeth Tyson posted her first double-double of the season with 15 kills and 11 digs while classmate Valeria Tipiana recorded 14 kills, five digs and six total blocks (1 BS, 5 BA).
Defensively, senior Jamie Grass lead all players with 23 digs while redshirt sophomore Francheska Savage posted six block assists.
The Terrapins (11-12, 6-7 ACC) also had three players post double-digit kills. Leading the way for Maryland were Sarah Treadwell and Jade Brown, each registered 14 kills.
“I think that this match was very important for us,” said head coach Nicole Lantagne Welch after the match. “I was proud of our start. We came out strong and played very well in the first couple games and set the tone for the match.”
The Hurricanes took game one easily, out-hitting the Terrapins .175 to .303 and forcing 10 errors to win 30-22.
Miami won the second game by an even larger margin after holding the Terps to a -.057 hitting percentage and just eight kills. The Hurricanes took the game 30-18 and a two game lead heading into half-time.
A regrouped Terrapins squad took the court in game three, however, this time forcing the Hurricanes to make 14 errors while posting 10 total blocks to stop the attack. Maryland won the game, 30-21.
The Terps then forced a fifth and deciding game after winning the fourth game, 30-21. Maryland averaged a .314 hitting percentage and forced 11 Miami errors.
From the onset, the Hurricanes dominated the fifth game rallying behind Johnson’s four kills and two blocks. As a team the Hurricanes hit .353 after connecting on seven kills in 17 swings. Miami out blocked the Terps three to one and held Maryland to a -.048 hitting percentage to take the game, 15-7, and the match.
“Game five was the ultimate team effort,” Lantagne Welch further commented. “We were scrambling and scrapping for every play and I thought our hustle and heart really showed.”
“We got into some passing problems in game three and I think that’s where they got their momentum but we rebounded and came out so strong in game five.”
The Hurricanes return to action Sunday afternoon when they host ACC foe Virginia at 1:00 pm in the Knight Sports Complex.
