Miami Volleyball Grounds FAU Owls, 3-0
Oct. 7, 2008
Coral Gables, Fla. – The University of Miami volleyball team collected their eighth sweep of the year Tuesday night with a 3-0 nonconference victory (25-13, 25-13, 25-19) over Florida Atlantic University at the James L. Knight Sports Complex in Coral Gables, Fla.
Miami (15-2) returned home for the first time since Sept. 19 and continued at least one streak on the campaign … an eight-match home winning streak dating back to Nov. 11, 2007.
The Orange and Green were on the road for five consecutive matches, going 3-2 (2-2 ACC) in that stretch.
“It was good to get back home and get a win tonight,” expressed UM head coach Nicole Lantagne Welch. “It’s tough when you’re on the road, and it’s always nice to get back to a friendly environment.”
UM junior outside hitter Genny Mayhew was the only Hurricane player to touch double-digit kills (10), but it was all that was needed as the `Canes used a season second-best tying nine service aces to collect their second consecutive win.
After winning the first two sets with mirror scores, 25-13 twice, UM needed a late charge to notch a come-from-behind win in the third and final set.
FAU (9-7) would not go away quietly as the visiting Owls sprinted out to a six point edge (11-5) behind six uninterrupted points off the serve of Nicole Gerig. In the run, FAU trailed 5-4 before a kill from Kristyna Dzmuranova sparked the rally.
Three of UM’s attack errors in the set aided the run for the Owls.
Following a Lici McGee kill down the left side, Miami libero/defensive specialist Cassie Loessberg helped put the `Canes on top for the first time since 2-1 with a service ace to the left corner to put UM up, 16-15.
FAU tied the score at 16 and 17, respectively, before Miami’s Maria Andersson collected one of her two service aces in the match to put her team back out in front, 18-17. Ariell Cooke followed with a kill and setter Katie Gallagher did the same to allow UM to jump up, 20-18.
Mayhew’s kill right down the middle put the set and match at a close, 25-19.
The Hurricanes hit a .289 clip (44-18-90) in the match while putting down eight team blocks. Miami also bested their win total from the 2006 (12-19) and 2007 (14-17) seasons with the win tonight. UM needs just two more wins to assure themselves the first winning season since 2005, a squad that went 16-14 (11-11 ACC).
FAU became the sixth opponent this season that UM has limited to less than a .100 hitting percentage. The Owls were held to .026 as they collected 19 kills and 17 errors on 77 swings.
The Owls were led on the night by three players tallying four kills apiece, most notably Anne Vaughan with four kills on 11 swings (.182). Dzmuranova and Morgan Johns had four kills as well. Kala Abdell led the defense with seven digs and a service ace.
UM looked towards Mayhew’s 10 kills, giving her double-digits in that category for the 11th time this season. Gallagher had a match-high 32 assists, while Loessberg pulled in eight digs and Lane Carico registered nine.
The Hurricanes continue their five-match home stand Friday, Oct. 10 when they play host to Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opponent Boston College inside the James L. Knight Sports Complex at 7 p.m. For ticket information, please call the UM Ticket Office at (800) 462-2637.
