Hurricanes Volleyball Back On the Road in ACC Play
Oct. 1, 2008
Coral Gables, Fla. – The University of Miami volleyball team continues their five-match road swing this weekend with trips to Clemson and Georgia Tech. The `Canes wrap-up their travels in Atlanta on Saturday before returning home for the first time since Sept. 19.
THE FACTS…
The Hurricanes are looking to rebound quickly from their first loss in 15 matches dating back to their last loss … Nov. 16, 2007 at Georgia Tech. UM’s loss at Wake Forest was the second time ever they had fallen in Winston-Salem to the Demon Deacons, and just their third loss ever to the Deacs. However, Miami’s hard-fought win over perennial power Duke was just their second-ever win over the Blue Devils, and the first in Durham.
There will be little time to heal, however, as the next two opponents for the `Canes own a combined 11-3 record against the Orange and Green all-time. Clemson holds a commanding 6-1 lead over UM, while Georgia Tech leads the series, 5-2. The last time Miami defeated the Tigers was Sept. 30, 2005. Since that time, Clemson has used a set-advantage of 15-4, including 3-0 sweeps in the last two outings. The Hurricanes have never won in Death Valley.
Against the Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech, the Hurricanes have felt their struggles as well, falling in the last three matches consecutively. The last UM win came back on Sept. 30, 2006 where the Orange and Green collected a 3-1 win in Atlanta, Ga.
Though falling out of the ranks of the unbeatens, Miami still picked up several other votes this week in the AVCA polls. Penn State still holds a commanding lead as the top-ranked team in the country after collecting all 60 first place votes with an unblemished 14-0 mark. Behind them is Nebraska (12-0) at No. 2. The only two other remaining unbeaten teams in the country are Wichita State (14) and Pepperdine (15).
ON CLEMSON…
Though starting the year slow at 9-5 (1-2 ACC), the Clemson Tigers are still the preseason favorites to win the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Tigers are led by a dynamic duo of hitters in the form of Lia Proctor and Danielle Hepburn. Proctor holds 195 kills while Hepburn is right behind her with 190. The setter for the Tigers is Kelsey Murphy, currently fourth in the league in assists with 545. The libero/defensive specialist duties for the Tigers fall on Didem Ege with a league fourth-best 226 digs.
ON GEORGIA TECH…
Attacking power and precise blocking is fundamental points of the game in “HOT”lanta, and Georgia Tech proves that year-in and year-out. The Yellow Jackets are 10-3 (2-1 ACC) so far and have a fantastic player in the form of Alison Campbell. Campbell, selected as the ACC Player of the Week (Sept. 1-8), sits third on the team in kills with 118, and fifth in blocks (18). Leading the charge for the Jackets, however, is Callie Miller with 131 kills and a team second-best 45 blocks. Talisa Kellogg holds 129 kills, while Mary Ashley Tippins (335) and Allie Niekamp (237) share time at the setter position. The defense falls on Michelle Kandell who leads the squad with 108 digs.
MIAMI VS. CLEMSON SERIES…
The Clemson Tigers hold a commanding 6-1 advantage in the series with Miami, winning all five of the last five meetings. The last victory for the Hurricanes was back on Sept. 30, 2005 in Coral Gables. The `Canes have yet to taste victory in Death Valley where they hold a 0-4 all-time record. All meetings between these two teams have taken place since UM joined the league back in 2004.
MIAMI VS. GEORGIA TECH SERIES…
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets own a 5-2 advantage over the Hurricanes and winning three of the last five contests. UM lost two straight when they entered the league in 2004; bounced back to win back-to-back matches; with Georgia Tech taking the last three.
FALL SEASON, SPLIT DECISION…
With the arrival of the fall season, and the beginning of October, Miami is 8-8 overall in the first match of October dating back to the program’s inception (1973), followed by the resurgence (2001). UM is just 2-2 in their month-opening matches since joining the league in 2004, with both losses coming to their opponents for this weekend–Clemson and Georgia Tech.
SPOTLIGHT ON THE STATS…
Miami is ranked in several statistical categories in the latest national polls. The `Canes are 34th nationally in blocks per set (2.55); 42nd in aces per set (1.67); 39th in digs per set (15.78); 21st in hitting percentage (.268); and ultimately 6th in winning percentage at 13-1 (.929). Junior Cassie Loessberg is ranked 33rd in the nation for digs per set (4.67).
`CANES STUMBLE IN RECORD SEEKING…
Seeking to tie or break the school record for wins to start the year (15-0, 2002); the 2008 Hurricane squad went 13-0 before falling last Friday night at Wake Forest. It was, however, the second-best start for any Miami volleyball team in school history. Only one other time had the `Canes held an undefeated record entering the month of October.
