Hurricanes Down Hokies in Four Games
Oct. 16, 2005
CORAL GABLES, <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Fla. – Redshirt junior Francheska Savage posted a match-high 21 kills for the second consecutive match to lead the Hurricanes past Atlantic Coast Conference foe Virginia Tech, 3-1 (30-23, 26-30, 31-29, 30-25), Sunday afternoon at the Knight Sports Complex. <?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
With the win, the Hurricanes, who finished the week 2-1, improve to 10-7 overall and 5-4 in the ACC. The Hokies fall to 9-9 overall and 4-5 in ACC play.
“It was an interesting match, there were a lot of runs but the big thing with us was that we never panicked when we got down and we just responded. We came up with some big plays when we most needed them and that was good to see,” said head coach Nicole Lantagne Welch.
Savage registered a .356 hitting percentage to go along with five digs and three solo blocks.
“Frannie is playing great for us,” added Lantagne Welch.” She’s mixing up some hard kills with some finesse in there too. She’s a difficult player to stop at the net and she’s doing a great job.”
Senior Karla Johnson and redshirt sophomore Ciara Michel each recorded 15 kills. Johnson dropped in four service aces to match a personal-best.
Junior Ann Gallo also matched a personal-best when she recorded 21 digs while fellow junior Jill Robinson dished out 51 assists.
Freshmen Angelica Ellis, who had her first career start, and Bridget Bomhack also contributed to the win.
Ellis recorded four kills, a service ace and two blocks, including her first career solo block while Bomhack added five digs and two assists.
“Angelica has been doing a great job at practice. She played hard for us and gave us some different looks. It was nice to see her go in and add something,” said Lantagne Welch.
“I thought that Bridget came off the bench and really stabilized things for us with passing, defense and good serving.”
The Hokies took a 14-8 lead to open the match before the Hurricanes reeled off four-straight points to pull to within two. Miami then went on another four point run to take a 16-15 lead but a Hokie kill tied the score at 16-all. Both teams exchanged leads until a Johnson kill put Miami up 20-19. The Hurricanes never relinquished their lead thereafter as they ran away with a 30-23 game one victory.
Game two likewise began with Virginia Tech leading early. Down 12-7, the Hurricanes used three back-to-back kills, including two-straight from Savage, to pull to within two. The Hokies kept Miami at bay until a Virginia Tech attacking error tied the game at 15-all. The Hurricanes knotted the score four more times before a Savage kill gave them a 21-20 lead. That lead was extended with an Ellis service ace but Virginia Tech remained within a point until three kills gave the Hokies a 26-24 lead. Miami could not get any closer as the Hokies tied the match with a 30-26 win.
Game three opened up with a point-for-point battle until the Hokies, posting back-to-back kills, got on top 7-5. The Hurricanes tied the score on five occasions before taking a 21-20 lead after a Virginia Tech service error. Miami extended its lead to 25-21 with five consecutive points that included two Johnson service aces. The Hurricanes pulled away to get to game point with the score 29-25 in their favor but the Hokies notched four consecutive points to tie the score at 29-all. A Michel kill and a Hokie attack error, however, eventually gave Miami the win, 31-29.
The Hurricanes trailed at the onset of game four but three consecutive kills, including two from Michel, put Miami ahead for good with the score 16-15. After forcing a Virginia Tech timeout, Miami added two more points to extend its lead. The Hurricanes would lead by as many as six as they ran away with a 30-25 win and the match victory.
Five Hokies posted double-digit kill efforts with Sarah Munoz hitting a team-high 18 kills.
The Hurricanes return to action next weekend when they travel to Duke and WakeForest. Miami will face the Blue Devils Friday, October 21 at 7:00 p.m. before squaring off against WakeForest the following evening at 6:00 p.m.
