Johnson Sets School Record in UM's Five Game Loss to Wake Forest

Johnson Sets School Record in UM's Five Game Loss to Wake Forest

Oct. 22, 2005

Box Score

<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.  – Senior outside hitter Karla Johnson knocked down 31 kills as the University of Miami volleyball team suffered a five game heartbreaking loss to host WakeForest in Atlantic Coast Conference Action Saturday evening. <?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

 

The Hurricanes (10-9, 5-6 ACC), down 2-0 in the match, rallied to win games three and four but could not solve the Demon Deacons (11-9, 4-7) who claimed a 3-2 (18-30, 27-30, 30-26, 30-23, 14-18) victory.

 

Johnson additionally contributed 16 digs and four total blocks (1BS, 3BA) in tonight’s match. Earlier in the season, Johnson tied the Hurricane match record with 30 kills at Houston on September 3rd.

 

Freshman Angelica Ellis posted nine total blocks (1BS, 8BA), a Miami season-best, while junior Ann Gallo registered a career-high 22 digs and three service aces.

 

Also contributing for the Hurricanes were junior Jill Robinson, who tallied 53 assists, 12 digs and four block assists; redshirt junior Francheska Savage, who registered 13 kills, two service aces and two block assists; and redshirt sophomore Ciara Michel, who posted seven block assists.

 

As a team, the Hurricanes set a new match record with 17.5 total blocks. Their 31 block assists is also a new match record.

 

Miami opened the match by jumping to a 7-3 lead in the first game. Both teams then exchanged points until the Demon Deacons scored 10 unanswered points to pull ahead 15-8. The Hurricanes could not make up the difference as the Demon Deacons ran away with a 30-18 game one victory.

 

Game two saw Miami once again jump to an early lead before Wake Forest tied the score at six-all. A point-for-point battled ensued with the score getting knotted up on nine occasions until wake Forest notched three consecutive points to pull ahead 18-16. The Demon Deacons maintained their lead but the Hurricanes remained within one point with the score at 27-26. However, Miami could not pull any closer as WakeForest eventually claimed a 30-27 win for a 2-0 match lead.

 

A reenergized Hurricane squad took the court in game three. Miami held the lead for most of the game and led by as many as six points. With the Hurricanes up 26-20, the Demon Deacons tried to rally but could not overcome the deficit as Miami took the win, 30-26. Miami held WakeForest to a -.018 hitting percentage and forced 14 attacking errors in the game.

 

Game four saw Miami lead early before WakeForest tied the score at 16-all. In spite of this, the Hurricanes would not relinquish the lead even as the Demon Deacons again tied the score, this time at 19-all. Miami then score five consecutive points highlighted by two Johnson kills and a Gallo service ace. The Hurricanes scored the last two points to take a 30-23 victory and tie the match at two games apiece.

 

The fifth and deciding game proved to be a nail-biter as both teams battled until the very end. Miami took a quick 6-2 lead but momentum swung the other way as WakeForest tallied the next eight points to pull ahead 9-6. Miami answered with a 5-1 run to take an 11-10 lead. The Demon Deacons returned from a time out to tie the score at 11-all and then proceeded to jump ahead 14-12. Savage knocked down a kill to keep Miami within one point but the Hurricanes could not get on top as the Demon Deacons claimed an 18-14 win for the match victory.

 

Wake Forest had five players post double-digit kill efforts while Natalie Mullikin led with 16 kills.

 

The Hurricanes return to action Tuesday when they host in-state rival FloridaState at the Knight Sports Complex. Match time is set for 7:00 p.m.