Ninth Ranked Cardinals Defeat Hurricanes, 3-1
Sept. 17, 2005
CORAL GABLES, <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Fla. – The University of Miami volleyball team dropped a 3-1 (33-30, 28-30, 23-30, 28-30), decision to ninth ranked Louisville in the closing match of the Orange and Green Challenge Saturday evening at the Knight Sports Complex.
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The Hurricanes have lost three straight and fall to 5-3 overall while Louisville improved to 9-0 en route to the tournament crown.
Senior outside hitter Karla Johnson, who surpassed the 1,000 career kills mark during Saturday morning’s match against MichiganState, was the only Miami player named to the All-Tournament team. Johnson tallied a match-high 25 kills to go along with seven digs and four total blocks (1BS, 3BA).
Junior setter Jill Robinson recorded a double-double, 51 assists and 12 digs, as well as three block assists while redshirt-junior middle blocker Francheska Savage notched 14 kills and four blocks assists.
Defensively, the Hurricanes were led by Ann Gallo, who tallied 19 digs, and Ciara Michel, who posted a team-high seven total blocks (1BS, 6BA). Junior outside hitter Sara Duncan also contributed defensively, registering a career-high 10 digs and three block assists.
Game one proved to be an all out battle as evidenced by the 19 tied scores and 12 lead changes. The Hurricanes matched the Cardinals point for point until U of L took a 28-26 lead. After a Miami timeout, the Hurricanes were able to tie the score thanks to a Johnson kill and a Louisville ball handling error. The Cardinals were at match point after a kill by Elena Pilnikova but an Ashley Woods kill once again tied the score, this time at 29-all. Pilinikova struck again to give the Cardinals a 30-29 lead but a U of L service error and back-to-back attack errors gave the Hurricanes the 32-30 victory and a 1-0 match lead.
Game two saw a similar toe-to-toe contest between both teams. The Hurricanes clawed back into the game after the Cardinals jumped to a 16-13 lead, using three kills by Johnson and capitalizing on three U of L errors to tie the score at 20-20. The Hurricanes stayed within two points, tying the score three more times, but a Miami block error gave the Cardinals the lead for good, winning the game 30-28.
Game three was all Louisville as the Cardinals only gave up the lead on one occasion. The Hurricanes were held to a match-low .091 hitting percentage as U of L took a 30-23 victory.
Louisville looked ready to jump to an early lead after winning three-straight points to start game four but the Hurricanes once again countered until they took a 13-12 lead. Miami led by as many as three points before the Cardinals regained the lead after a Miami attacking error. The Hurricanes tied the score at 28-all after two kills by Johnson and a Duncan service ace but the Hurricanes could not solve the Cardinals as they won the game 30-28 for the match victory.
The Cardinals had four players turn in double-digit kill efforts, highlighted by tournament MVP Lena Ustymenko, who tallied 24 kills. Pilinikova and Jennifer Craven combined to dish out 58 assists while Nicole Bateman tallied a team-high 13 digs.
The Hurricanes begin ACC action next weekend when they travel to BostonCollege, September 23rd for a 7:00 p.m. match. Miami will then face Maryland at 1:00 p.m. on September 25th.
Orange and Green Challenge All-Tournament Team
Ana Yartseva (Louisville)
Elena Pilnikova (Louisville)
Karla Johnson (Miami)
Nicole Colaluca (MichiganState)
Katie Johnson (MichiganState)
Atlee Hubbard (SacramentoState)
Most Valuable Player: Lena Ustymenko (Louisville)
Orange and Green Challenge Runner-up: SacramentoState
Orange and Green Challenge Champion: Louisville
