Hurricanes Rally to Top Clemson in Five Games
Sept. 30, 2005
CORAL GABLES, <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Fla. – The University of Miami volleyball team, down 2-1, rallied to defeat visiting Clemson in five games (30-25, 30-32, 28-30, 30-25, 15-8) in its Atlantic Coast Conference home opener Friday evening at the Knight Sports Complex.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
The Hurricanes, who are now 3-0 when it comes down to the fifth and deciding game, improve to 7-4 overall and 2-1 in the ACC. The Tigers suffered their first conference loss of the season, falling to 2-1 and 7-4 overall.
“The key for us was coming back in game four,” said head coach Nicole Lantagne Welch. “We just decided that we were not going to hand it over so we raised our level of play and carried that momentum into game five.”
“We like the fifth game,” Lantagne Welch added. “I’m very proud of the way that we were able to comeback.”
Miami had four players post double-digit kill efforts, five players tally double-digit digs and three players register double-doubles.
Redshirt sophomore Ciara Michel set a Miami match record when she posted five solo blocks to go along with three block assists and 11 kills.
Redshirt junior Francheska Savage also had a breakout match after knocking down a career-high 18 kills to lead Miami.
Sophomore Michelle Bruin’s 16 digs set a personal best while freshman Lauren Rinderknecht tallied her first double-double of her career with two personal bests, 11 kills and 14 digs.
Senior Karla Johnson and junior Jill Robinson continued their steady play both offensively and defensively. Johnson registered 17 kills to go along with a career-high 18 digs, three service aces and four total blocks (3 BS, 1BA). Robinson led all players with 58 assists. She also tallied a career-high 16 digs.
“Michelle really secured our passing and Frannie was awesome in her attack. Sara Duncan came of the bench in games four and five and showed really aggressive play.”
Duncan, finished the match with nine total kills and two blocks (1BS, 1BA), one of which came in the fifth game.
In front of an announced crowd of 822, the Hurricanes took the first game, 30-25, before falling, 30-32, in a nailbitting second game and 28-30 in the third game.
Down 2-1 in the match, a reenergized Miami squad returned to the court for game four. The Tigers took an early 12-6 lead before a 6-2 Miami run tied the score at 15-all. The Hurricanes then pulled away with five-straight points for a 20-15 lead. Clemson would inch to within two points but the Tigers could not solve the Hurricanes as they claimed a 30-25 win.
Miami jumped to a 5-1 lead before the Tigers tied the score at five-all and then again at seven-all. The Hurricanes capitalized on four consecutive Clemson errors while posting four blocks near the end of the game to take a 15-8 win and the match victory.
Lantagne Welch was impressed by the team’s blocks, which totaled 16, “As a team, we made some huge blocks at different times in key situations.”
The Hurricanes return to action Sunday at the Knight Sports Complex with a 1:00 p.m. match-up against Georgia Tech. For ticket information please contact The Hurricane Ticket Office at 1-800-GO-CANES or visit online at www.hurricanesports.com.
The Georgia Tech match will be broadcast live on WVUM 90.5 and can also be found on the web at www.wvum.org. Fans can also follow Sunday’s match, as well as all UM home matches, live on the web at www.hurricanesports.com.
