Miami Volleyball Opens Spring Practice Thursday

Feb. 27, 2008

CORAL GABLES, <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Fla. – The University of Miami volleyball team will open its spring training season Thursday with the start of practices leading up to four exhibition events over the next two months as the Hurricanes begin preparation for the 2008 fall season.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

“We are looking forward to raising our level of training a few notches this spring,” head coach Nicole Lantagne Welch said. “I think we are focused and hungry to make big strides as a team heading into the fall.”

The Hurricanes will open the spring season with an exhibition match at Florida Atlantic, March 22 before returning home to host Florida March 29 at the Knight Sports Complex. UM will remain at home the following week when it hosts a six-team event featuring UCF, FAU, Barry, Nova Southeastern and Lynn.

Miami will close out the spring season when the team participates in the Florida Division I Collegiate Beach Tournament, April 19 in Siesta Key, Fla.

The Hurricanes, coming off a 14-17 campaign in 2007, return 10 letterwinners, including seven of their top eight offensive players, their top defensive player in Cassie Loessberg and All-ACC freshman setter Katie Gallagher. Signees Lane Carico, a Mizuno/Volleyball All-American from Manhattan Beach, Calif. and Ali Becker, a middle blocker from Katy, Texas, will join the team in the fall.

2008 Volleyball Spring Training Schedule

Feb. 28          Spring Training begins

March 22       at FloridaAtlantic

March 29       Florida

April 5             Home tournament

April 19          Florida Division I Collegiate Beach Tournament (Siesta Key, Fla.)