Hurricanes Sweep Eagles to End Skid
Oct. 30, 2005
CORAL GABLES, <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Fla. – The University of Miami volleyball team snapped a three-match skid with a 3-0 (30-25, 30-26, 30-28) sweep over visiting Atlantic Coast Conference foe Boston College Sunday afternoon at the Knight Sports Complex. <?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
With the win, the Hurricanes improve to 11-10 overall and 6-7 in ACC play. The Eagles fall to 6-17 and 1-13 in the ACC.
“We’re still inconsistent at times and that’s been our Achilles’ heel,” said head coach Nicole Lantagne Welch. “We’ll play great for a while and then we’ll let teams back in. I thought that we prevented the long runs in this match and I think that made the difference.”
Redshirt junior Francheska Savage led all players with 20 kills while senior Karla Johnson contributed 18 kills of her own alongside a match-high three service aces. Junior Jill Robinson likewise led all players with 53 assists.
Freshman Angelica Ellis played a well rounded match, knocking down nine kills for a .333 hitting percentage while also adding a team-high four total blocks (1BS, 3BA).
“I was very proud of the way Angelica came in and became more offensive for us and more available, which is something that we’ve been working on and it was nice to see,” continued Lantagne Welch. “Frannie is continuing to develop out there on the outside and being a go to player for us.”
Senior Kaitlin Kozak led the Hurricanes defensively with 12 digs to go along with two service aces.
“I also thought that Kaitlin came in and did a really nice job. After I talked to her a little after the first game, she really raised her level of play for the match and that was much needed for the team,” said Lantagne Welch.
The match opened up with a feisty BostonCollege squad taking an 8-2 lead. The Hurricanes then began to chip away at the Eagles’ lead with a five-point run but BostonCollege notched two-straight points to go ahead 14-10. With BC up 21-17, Miami knocked down three consecutive kills to pull to within two points and force a BostonCollege timeout. Though the Hurricanes tied the score at 22-all, the Eagles maintained a two point lead but a five-point run finally allowed the Hurricanes to jump ahead 26-24. Miami then capitalized on a BC attacking error sandwiched by two Johnson kills to claim a 30-25 game one victory.
Boston College led at the onset of game two before Miami, off the strength of a five-point run, took a 10-8 lead. The Hurricanes never trailed again as they ran away with a 30-26 victory. Miami hit .420 for the game and was led by Savage who scorched 7-of-10 kills for a .700 hitting percentage.
The Hurricanes opened game three with a 5-2 lead. They then took control of the game with a six-point run, highlighted by three consecutive Johnson kills, to go ahead 15-8. With Miami up 21-15, the Eagles threatened with a four-point run but the Hurricanes maintained a 21-19 lead. BostonCollege once again threatened late in the game with an 8-3 run but a kill by Savage sealed a 30-28 win and the match victory.
The Hurricanes return to action with a four-match road swing, which will open at Georgia Tech Friday, November 4th.
