Hurricanes Take Down Prairie View A&M, 3-0, in Volleyball

Aug. 29, 2009

Box Score | Box Score in PDF Format

Coral Gables, Fla. – Maria Andersson set a school-record for service aces in a three-set match (7) in helping the University of Miami volleyball squad defeat Prairie View A&M, 3-0 (25-8, 25-17, 25-16), on the second day of the Hurricane Invitational at the James L. Knight Sports Complex in Coral Gables, Fla.

Miami (2-0) used 12 service aces while hitting a school fifth-best .421 clip (30-6-57) for the match in advancing to the championship match of this year’s Hurricane Invitational.

UM ran out to an 8-0 lead in the first set as Genny Mayhew and Lici McGee combined for two kills each to start the match. Prairie View A&M (0-2) trailed 14-2 in the set after Mayhew served two aces during a 6-0 Hurricanes run.

UM took the first set 25-8 in hitting .556 (12-2-18) in the set, while the Lady Panthers were held to a season-low -.200 clip (3-6-15).

In the second set, the two combatants stood even at 6-6 following a kill from PVAM’s Cheri Lindsay off an assist by Erin Fondel. Only moments later, a kill by McGee off the set from freshman Nrithya Sundararaman put the `Canes out in front, 7-6, as they would go on a 7-0 run. In the run, it was Mayhew once again serving for UM as five of the `Canes points came off Lady Panthers attack errors.

With the lead at 20-14 in favor of UM, Sapphire Reid hammered a kill down the middle to bring her team to within 21-15. Two PVAM service errors put UM up further, 23-16, before Sundararaman registered two of her five kills for the match down the stretch. That closed the set, 25-17.

In the third set, PVAM used a block from Alexandria Sauls and UM service error to go out, 2-0, at the start.

A service error charged to PVAM would kick-start a 10-0 UM run that saw three Andersson service aces in the stretch.

With UM on top, 10-2, Ali Becker and Lane Carico had back-to-back kills to increase the Hurricanes advantage at 14-4. PVAM’s Reid collected a kill and a service ace to bring the Lady Panthers to within 16-10.

But UM used five Lady Panthers attack errors down the stretch to reach match-point, 24-16. Sundararaman took advantage of a free ball over the net as she slammed down a kill to close the match, 25-16.

Prairie View A&M was led by Reid’s seven kills and seven digs, while teammates Sharonda Marshall and Lindsay had five kills each, respectively.

Miami was led in kills by McGee’s eight kills in hitting .500 for the match, while also taking four block assists. Carico placed seven kills for the `Canes while taking eight digs and one solo block.

Setter Sundararaman had a match-high 19 assists and five kills with two block assists.

As for Andersson, her seven service aces highlighted the match as she set a new school-record for aces in a three-set match. She passed Kristi Sprinkel who had six against Nova Southeastern back in 2001.

As a team, UM’s 12 service aces ties for third-most in school history, setting the mark same total last year against Louisiana-Monroe as part of the CenturyTel Premier Tournament in San Marcos, Texas.

Miami now faces USF for the Hurricane Invitational title at 7:30 p.m. back at the James L. Knight Sports Complex. USF downed Florida Gulf Coast, 3-1, in one of the most exciting matches of the tournament in today’s opening match.

FGCU faces Prairie View A&M in the last match of the tournament for both teams at 5 p.m.

The official Hurricane Invitational website can be accessed by clicking here. The website includes updated information on all participating teams, as well as box scores and recaps of each match. Live stats are provided for each match through Game Tracker.

For more information on the University of Miami Volleyball team, please log on to www.hurricanesports.com. Once there, you will find up-to-date news, stats and information regarding the Hurricanes Volleyball program.