Miami Volleyball to Host Senior Day Weekend

Nov. 19, 2009

Complete Match Notes in PDF Format

Coral Gables, Fla. – The University of Miami volleyball team returns home for two of its final three matches this weekend, playing host to the University of Maryland (Nov. 20) and Boston College (Nov. 22) on a “Senior Day” weekend at the James L. Knight Sports Complex in Coral Gables, Fla.

Despite having one more match next week (Nov. 25) against ACC- and in-state rival Florida State, Miami (16-11, 9-8 ACC) will host “Senior Day” when facing Boston College on Sunday. The `Canes will celebrate “Senior Day” with student-athletes Maria Andersson, Genny Mayhew, Cassie Loessberg and Griffin Udelson, all playing in the next-to-last match at the James L. Knight Sports Complex.

Miami took both matches of the road series at Maryland and Boston College earlier in the year, but the Terrapins have traditionally played well against the Hurricanes. The Eagles played well against Miami as well in the last meeting, taking the first set of an eventual four-set victory for the `Canes in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

The Hurricanes have already secured their second consecutive winning season, and will seek the chance to collect 18-or more wins in a season for the fourth time since the program was brought back in 2001. For UM head coach Nicole Lantagne Welch, this year’s winning season becomes her seventh in nine years at the helm in Coral Gables.

Miami is led by sophomore outside hitter Lane Carico with a league-leading 440 kills, averaging 4.36 kills per set and owns a league-best 16 double-double efforts on the campaign. Freshman setter Nrithya Sundararaman has placed herself fourth all-time at UM for assists, registering 776 on the season. Senior Cassie Loessberg paces the UM defense with a league-leading 4.98 digs per set (503 total).

Both matches this weekend will feature live stats provided by Game Tracker through the UM athletics website at www.hurricanesports.com. Live audio for both matches will be made available through WVUM (www.wvum.org).

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 Maryland
The University of Maryland comes into the weekend holding a 13-17 record on the year, while sporting a 5-12 mark in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Terrapins use a trio of players for kills, while being led by Maddi Lee with a team-leading 298. Right behind her is Katie Usher (263) and Kara Bates (262).

The setter for the Terps is Taylor Jones (635 / 6.55 aps); while the digs are led by Sam Rosario with 454 digs (4.17 dps). Also chipping in on defense is Brittney Grove with 269 digs–second-best on the Maryland squad.

Series against Maryland
The University of Maryland leads the all-time series against Miami with a 7-5 count. However, UM swept the Terps last year for the first time in history, and Miami took this year’s only other meeting to claim three wins in a row in this series.

Quick Hits on Boston College
Boston College comes into the weekend sporting a 12-16 overall record, and a mark of 2-15 in the ACC. Both of the Eagles’ wins in ACC play have come against NC State (winless in the league).

Taylor Williams leads the Eagles with 321 kills, while teammates Mollie Kolosky owns 240 kills. The Eagles look towards setter Krissy Mussenden for assists, leading the way with 987. The digs are supplied on defense by libero Brennan Clark with a team-best 459 digs. Behind her is Kristen Baader with 255.

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 scores in each match. The last BC win was a 3-0 count back on Oct. 12, 2007.

Last Time vs. Maryland (10/18/09)
The University of Miami used 18 kills from Lane Carico and eight more from Lici McGee to help power past the University of Maryland, 3-0 (25-23, 25-15, 25-18), at Comcast Pavilion in College Park, Md. Maryland was led on the day by Maddi Lee’s 11 kills. She was followed by Katie Usher and Brittney Grove, each adding five kills. Usher also placed three blocks, and Grove collected a team-high 13 digs. The `Canes were led by Carico’s 18 kills and six digs, while McGee tallied eight kills and one block assist. Sundararaman finished with a match-high 36 assists, and Loessberg added 13 digs on defense.

Last Time vs. Boston College (10/16/09)
Sophomore Lane Carico tallied a match-high 25 kills and classmate Christine Williamson exploded for 12 more in helping the University of Miami to a 3-1 victory (24-26, 25-12, 25-18, 25-18) over host Boston College inside Power Gymnasium in Chestnut Hill, Mass. As for Miami, Carico led all players with 25 kills while adding 13 digs and two blocks (assisted), jumping her double-double streak to eight matches. Williamson poured in double-digit kills (12) for the fourth time in five matches, while teammate Cooke placed nine kills and six blocks (five assists). Lizzie Hale posted a career-high 18 digs for UM, and Sundararaman had 49 assists and three blocks (two assists). Cassie Loessberg had 11 digs and two assists from her libero position. As a team, UM hit .308 on the night, eclipsing the .300-mark for the fourth time this year–and the second time in three ACC matches.

On These Dates in History
The University of Miami holds a 10-4 all-time mark in matches played on November 20 and 22. In matches played on November 20, UM is 7-4, while holding a mark of 3-1 all-time in matches played on November 22. Miami’s last match on either of these dates was a setback at UNC last season in a key ACC match-up between the `Canes and Tar Heels.