Mayhew Paces Hurricanes Volleyball past Maryland, 3-0

Mayhew Paces Hurricanes Volleyball past Maryland, 3-0

Nov. 7, 2008

Box Score

College Park, Md. – The University of Miami volleyball team used a 14-kill performance by junior Genny Mayhew as it swept past Maryland, 3-0, Friday evening in an Atlantic Coast Conference matchup inside Comcast Pavilion. The Hurricanes’ 25-19, 25-21, 27-25 victory pushed their season mark to 21-6 and gave them their first-ever season series sweep of the Terrapins.

Miami (21-6, 9-5 ACC) equaled their total number of wins against the homestanding Maryland Terrapins this season as they trailed the all-time series, 7-2, entering 2008. They defeated Maryland both times this year, in the process earning their first-ever victory in College Park.

Miami jumped up 1-0 in the match as three players registered three kills each in the opening set. Maryland (6-20, 2-12 ACC) kept the set close early-on, but three kills from senior Angelica Ellis and a .750 attack mark fueled the Hurricanes late march.

Back-to-back kills from redshirt senior Ashley Woods clipped the Terps’ scoring edge at 14-14 and a service error charged to Maryland pushed the Orange and Green out in front for good. Setter Katie Gallagher recorded two kills down the final stretch for the `Canes.

In the second frame, the `Canes cooled off a bit as they collected just a .190 clip (16-8-42), but they held the Terrapins to just .100 hitting while also holding them to a match-low .083 (10-7-36) in the first set. Miami registered a .296 mark (13-5-27) in the opening frame.

The frame saw Mayhew step up for six kills and teammate Ellis put down four of her own to lead UM. Defensively, freshman Lane Carico got low for six digs and placed two kills inside the lines, while junior libero Cassie Loessberg and Gallagher sparked the defense with five digs each. Ellis had two block assists at the net to add to her heightening numbers.

An early 8-3 deficit in the third frame, following two kills from Maryland’s Michelle Kenning, allowed the Terps to hold command. They would increase their lead with five kills from Maddi Lee and four more from Brittney Grove and Kenning, respectively, as the home team held a late 19-13 advantage.

UM then went on a 4-1 run that closed the gap at 20-17 with the help of a kill by Woods and Carico. The lead would diminish even more as a service ace from Loessberg and another Woods kill–one of eight on the night for the Round Rock, Texas native, pulled the `Canes to within striking distance at 21-19.

Three consecutive Miami points, employed by Woods and Ellis, plus back-to-back Terps’ attack errors, and the Hurricanes erased their deficit to move ahead for the first time in the set, 22-21.

Maryland tied things back at 23-23 with a Kenning blast down the right line, but Carico eased the `Canes back in front 24-23 with a kill shot. A service error ensued to knot the set again, 24-24, before Maryland’s Lee took a Sharon Strizak assist to claim a kill for the go-ahead score, 25-24.

Ellis once again slowed the Terps’ rally with a kill to deadlock the set, 25-25, but Mayhew’s kill from Gallagher, and a service ace from Ellis appropriately ended the match, 27-25. Also showing fortitude in the set was Mayhew with five kills, as well as defensive specialist Loessberg serving up two aces.

Maryland was led by Katie Usher in kills with nine, while she also picked up a match-high five blocks (three assists). Behind her was Lee with eight kills and two digs, as well as Brittney Grove with seven kills and two blocks (one solo). The defensive efforts were charged by Bethany Springer with 14 digs, while teammate Strizak posted a double-double (15 assists, 10 digs).

Miami was led on the night by Mayhew’s 14-kill outpour with the help of Ellis’ 10-kill performance–the fifth time this year the Houston, Texas native has touched double-digits, and the second time in as many matches. Ellis also chipped in with two blocks (assisted), while Mayhew added two of her own (one solo).

Also playing well was Woods with eight kills and two blocks. Gallagher had another double-double performance with 37 assists and 12 digs (team-high), while Loessberg added 11 digs of her own to go along with three very timely service aces. Lane Carico added 10 digs on defense with six kills on 20 attacks.

The `Canes get back to the court Sunday afternoon when they travel to Boston College for a noon showdown with the Eagles in Chestnut Hill. Live stats will be available through Game Tracker at www.hurricanesports.com.