Miami Tops San Francisco, 3-2 for Tournament Title
Sept. 14, 2008
San Francisco, Calif. – Genny Mayhew was named tournament MVP and two other Hurricanes were named to the All-Tournament Team as the University of Miami topped host University of San Francisco for a 3-2 victory (11-25, 25-19, 25-17, 21-25, 15-10) in the 2008 Asics/Coca-Cola Invitational in San Francisco, Calif.
The undefeated season for the Hurricanes will be intact for at least another week as the Orange and Green won their third regular season tournament of the campaign. For the second time this year, junior outside hitter Genny Mayhew was named Tournament MVP. Joining Mayhew on the All-Tournament Team was fellow Hurricanes setter Katie Gallagher and Lici McGee.
She claimed top honors in the season-opening tournament in San Marcos, Texas.
Miami (10-0) dropped the opening set, 25-11 behind a number of attack errors and offensive kills from San Francisco’s Sarah Mandala who posted five of her match-high 21 kills in the set. Miami bounced back in the second set to take a 25-19 win behind the blocking prowess of Angelica Ellis and kills from junior outside hitter Mayhew.
The Hurricanes got solid play in the third set to go ahead in the match as Lici McGee collected four of her team-high four kills in the set. In the second and third set, the Hurricanes had just two (2) errors combined. That was after they had five errors in the first set alone.
In the fourth set, USF (6-3) turned towards Mandala once again, while teammate Alix Gambos had three kills of her own. Gombos pitched in with nine kills in the match for the Dons.
The fifth set was another classic as the Hurricanes undefeated seemed as if it were slipping away as the Dons jumped up 3-0 following back-to-back attack errors by the `Canes. Following a service ace from the Dons’ Chelsey Lowe–one of a team-best 10 against the Hurricanes this season, USF went up 5-1.
Two kills from Mayhew and McGee, respectively, and the Hurricanes jumped out on top, 8-7. The run continued for the Orange and Green when the Dons registered two attack errors and UM’s Lici McGee had a kill to push the Hurricanes lead out to 11-7.
Three errors from the Dons added to the Hurricanes lead as the lead jumped out to 14-8. USF committed five errors in the set to aid the Hurricanes cause.
The Dons were led on the night by Mandala with a match-high 21 kills and three blocks (assisted). Gombos added nine kills while three others had seven kills apiece.
The `Canes were led by the play of McGee with 14 kills and Mayhew had 13 kills of her own. Freshman Lane Carico had 10 kills and 19 digs for her second double-double of the year.
The `Canes will be back in action next Friday, Sept. 19 when they step into Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) waters hosting in-state rival Florida State at 7 p.m. The action takes place at the James L. Knight Sports Complex.
