UM Volleyball Edges Georgia Tech in Instant Classic, 3-2
Nov. 14, 2008
Coral Gables, Fla. – Lane Carico laid down 16 kills as Genny Mayhew added 12 to help the University of Miami volleyball team to a come-from-behind victory, 3-2, over Georgia Tech on Friday night (25-15, 20-25, 27-29, 25-21, 15-12) in an ACC matchup at the James L. Knight Sports Complex in Coral Gables, Fla.
Miami (23-5, 11-5 ACC) fell behind 2-1 in the match after taking the first set in blistering fashion, 25-15. The Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech leaned on Chrissy DeMichelis and Talisa Kellogg in the second and third set, respectively, to go ahead.
Georgia Tech (18-8, 10-6 ACC) trailed 22-17 in the third set after suffering their fourth attack error of the frame. Kellogg, who finished the match with 17 kills under her belt, placed three consecutive kills inside the lines for the Rambling Wreck, and that was followed by a UM error to bring Georgia Tech to within 22-20.
After a Georgia Tech service error and a service ace from UM junior Cassie Loessberg, one of her team-high three aces on the night, the Hurricanes stared at set point, 24-22. But the Yellow Jackets used a kill from DeMichelis a service ace from Michelle Kandell to knot the score, 24-24. Kandell served up a match-high five aces on the night for the Rambling Wreck.
The teams traded the lead for a few points until Alison Campbell used a Jordan McCullers pass for a kill, and teammate Kellogg laid down a shot in front of the net to give the Yellow Jackets the set and the lead in the match with a 29-27 advantage.
In the fourth set and the Hurricanes possibly facing their second consecutive home loss, Georgia Tech held a slight 15-12 advantage halfway through the frame. The work was provided by Callie Miller who had four kills in the set for the Yellow Jackets. UM used a 5-0 run to climb back on top when Lane Carico, Bridget Bomhack and Ariell Cooke all selected right spots on the court for kills to give the Orange and Green the lead, 17-15.
After moving out in front at 18-16, Georgia Tech’s Miller collected another kill and UM was forced into an attack error–their fourth of the set, to knot the score at 18-18. That’s when Bomhack had a kill and back-to-back errors by the Yellow Jackets moved the homestanding `Canes back out in front, 21-18.
Following a kill from senior Angelica Ellis and Carico, the Yellow Jackets committed two errors on their next three possessions to give UM the lead and tie the match with their 25-21 win.
In the fifth and final set, the tension was in the air from both teams as the standing-room only and season-high crowd of 843 was on their feet, both for the `Canes and the Georgia Tech faithful who made the trip from the Greater Atlanta Metro area.
An attack error by the Yellow Jackets and a service ace from Loessberg put the Orange and Green on top first, 2-0. That was quickly answered by a 4-0 run sparked by back-to-back kills from Miller and DeMichelis.
The run was aided as well by yet another Kandell service ace and an attack error by the `Canes. Kandell’s five service aces ties Haley Carroll’s (San Francisco) previous season-high five aces against the `Canes on the year set back on Sept. 13 in the Asics/Coca-Cola Classic in which the Hurricanes took home the top prize with a 3-0 record.
UM tied the score at 5-5 with help from a pair of errors–service and attack, by Georgia Tech before they edged back in front (6-5) with a UM service error.
Miami captured the lead back at 10-9 in the midst of a 3-0 run with the help of three consecutive errors charged to Georgia Tech. In the run, they were called for a set-error, as well as a ball-handling error. That game UM the advantage, 11-9.
The score would stand tied at 11-11 when Allie Niekamp placed a kill down the left sideline from a Brittany Roderick set, forcing UM to take a timeout.
The timeout speech from eight-year head coach Nicole Lantagne Welch seemed to work as Miami quickly scampered out to a 13-11 lead with Carico’s kill and another error by the Yellow Jackets. They committed a match second-highest six errors in the deciding frame.
Miami would close-out the match and earn their school-record tying 11th ACC win of the year–their 11th home win overall, with block assists from Mayhew and Ellis. Ellis was key at the net all night for the Hurricanes as she amassed 11 kills and team-high five blocks.
All blockers in the match were trailing Georgia Tech’s duo of Miller and DeMichelis, however, as each collected six blocks. Miller had four assists, while her teammate put in four by solo performance.
With the win tonight, Miami sweeps Georgia Tech for the first time ever in a season series, and is now back in the hunt for an Atlantic Coast Conference Championship as Clemson was defeated by Florida State, 3-2, on Friday night, and North Carolina downed Duke on Thursday. UNC is now a half-match ahead of Miami who is in a three-way dance with Duke (who Miami has already swept) and Clemson (who UM faces on Sunday).
The Hurricanes still have a meeting left with the Tar Heels on Nov. 20 in Chapel Hill.
Tonight, Georgia Tech was led in a variety of ways by a number of players. Leading them all in kills was DeMichelis with a match-high 18, while teammates Kellogg (17) and Miller (16) followed closely behind her. Niekamp had a match-high tying 52 assists, and Kandell collected a match-high 32 digs.
The Yellow Jackets also got 17 digs from Niekamp to give the setter a double-double, while Kellogg added 12 digs to notch a double-double performance of her own.
As for Miami, the Hurricanes used Carico’s 16-kill output on offense to lead the charge, while Mayhew (12) and Ellis (11) were right behind her. For Ellis, her 11 kills was the most she’s had in a 5-set match this year.
Gallagher provided the offense with a match-high tying 52 assists and 13 digs to sweep her way to her 14th double-double of the year–her eight consecutive. Her 52 assists is also the fourth time this year she’s eclipsed the 50-assist plateau.
The blocks were handled by Ellis (5 assisted), while Carico, Mayhew and Gallagher each added three as well.
The defense was charged by Loessberg, as always, as the libero/defensive specialist for the `Canes pulled in a team-high 23 digs to go along with three assists and three aces.
Double-doubles were poured out by Carico who added 17 digs, as well as Mayhew with 14 digs. It was Mayhew’s 11th double-double effort of the year, while freshman Carico posted her 13th.
UM now enjoys a day off before hosting Clemson in what is now the biggest home match of the year and a shot at first place in the ACC standings on the line at the James L. Knight Sports Complex on Sunday, Nov. 16 at 1 p.m. The match also serves as Senior Day for the Hurricanes who will be honoring Bridget Bomhack, Angelica Ellis and Ashley Woods in their last home match wearing the Orange and Green.
