UM Closes Road Swing at Boston College, Maryland
Oct. 15, 2009
Complete Match Notes in PDF Format 
Coral Gables, Fla. – The University of Miami volleyball team wraps up its four-match road swing this weekend traveling to Boston College (Oct. 16) and Maryland (Oct. 18) for a pair of Atlantic Coast Conference matchups. This weekend, UM is playing its fourth and fifth ACC road matches of the year.
UM begins Friday’s match against Boston College at 7 p.m., in Chestnut Hill, Mass., while the match against Maryland is slated for 1 p.m., in College Park.
Last week, Miami (10-7, 3-4 ACC) collected its first ACC road win of the 2009 campaign in defeating Wake Forest, 3-1.
As a team, UM is currently fifth in the league in kills and assists, while sophomore outside hitter Lane Carico leads the league in kills (280 / 4.31 kps). Additionally, Carico is ranked 22nd nationally in kills. Senior libero Cassie Loessberg tops the ACC in digs (353 / 4.53 dps) while also sitting 12th in the nation for digs. As a team, the `Canes are atop the league in digs. UM holds 1,016 total digs (15.63 dps).
Ali Becker and Lici McGee each moved over the 130-kill plateau last week for the `Canes, and freshman setter Nrithya Sundararaman leads the squad in assists with 389 to her credit. UM is putting down blocks well with the help of Becker and McGee. Together, they have been vital for the Hurricanes up front, leading Miami to a third place mark in the league for blocks (158 total / 2.44 bps) as a team and ranking 44th nationally.
The `Canes are seeking the opportunity to step above the .500 mark in the ACC this weekend, but will need a sweep of Boston College and Maryland to do so. Head coach Nicole Lantagne Welch, enjoying her ninth year at the helm in Coral Gables, posted her 75th career ACC win last week in Miami’s triumph over Wake Forest.
Lantagne Welch, a 1994 graduate of the University of Maryland, is seeking back-to-back wins on the road against her alma mater for the first time. Last season, UM swept the Terrapins, 3-0, to end a five-match losing skid in College Park.
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.
Quick Hits on Boston College
Boston College comes into the weekend sporting an 11-7 overall record, and a mark of 1-6 in the ACC. In their lone conference win of the year, the Eagles took down NC State, 3-0, back on Oct. 3. Boston College opened the year winning 10 of its first 11 matches, including a 10-match winning streak from Aug. 29 through Sept. 19.
The Eagles are led by Mollie Kolosky with 240 kills, while teammates Taylor Williams (192) and Jordan Meredith (158) are also over the 150-kill plateau. The setter for the Eagles is Krissy Mussenden, leading the squad with 659 assists. Brennan Clark leads the squad in digs with 317 and Kristen Baader has 172.
Series against Boston College
Against Boston College, the Hurricanes of Miami own an all-time record of 8-2. UM has won the last three meetings, including 3-0 sweeps in each match. The last BC win was a 3-0 count back on Oct. 12, 2007.
Quick Hits on Maryland
The University of Maryland comes into the weekend holding an even 10-10 record while being 2-5 in the ACC. The Terps use Maddi Lee for kills, leading the team with 210 (2.84 kps) and 22 total blocks. Behind her is Katie Usher with 194 kills and 64 total blocks (53 assists).
The setter for the Terrapins is Taylor Jones with a team-best 548 assists, and teammate Sharon Strizak has 219 assists to her credit–second on the squad in that category. Digs are accumulated by libero Sam Rosaio with a team-leading 303, as well as Brittney Grove with 183.
Series against Maryland
The University of Maryland leads the all-time series against Miami with a 7-4 count. However, UM swept the Terps last year for the first time in history, but the Terps had previously taken three in a row prior to the 2009 season victories for the `Canes.
Life in the Fast Lane
Miami sophomore outside hitter Lane Carico recorded 22 kills and 22 digs in a 3-1 win over Wake Forest (Oct. 8), the first 20-20 performance in the ACC this season. Additionally, she recorded another double-double with 15 kills and 13 digs in a 3-0 loss to Duke (Oct. 10) to run her streak to seven straight matches with a double-double. Overall, Carico has a league-leading nine double-doubles.
Fast Noting the `Canes
The Hurricanes have out-hit their opponents in nine of their 10 wins in 2009. Junior setter Katie Gallagher (299) is one set assist away from making Miami the third league team to have two players post at least 300 assists this season.
On These Dates in History
On the dates Oct. 16 and 18 throughout history, the Hurricanes have enjoyed great success, holding an overall record of 11-3. In matches played on Oct. 16, the `Canes are 5-1. In matches played on Oct. 18, UM is 6-2. The last match played on either of these dates occurred last season in UM’s thrilling 3-1 victory over North Carolina on Oct. 18, 2008 in Coral Gables.
