Miami Volleyball Enjoys End-of-Year Awards Dinner
Feb. 16, 2010
Coral Gables, Fla. – Ninth-year volleyball head coach Nicole Lantagne Welch awarded several University of Miami volleyball student-athletes with team awards on Tues., Feb. 16, recognizing performances in a variety of areas on and off the court for the Hurricanes during what was a memorable 2009 playing season.
Following a series of skits and performances by the team, Nicole Lantagne Welch honored several student-athletes from Miami’s 2009 NCAA Tournament [Gainesville Region] team that finished the year 18-13 overall.
The Most Valuable Player Award for the 2009 season went to Lane Carico (So., OH). The Manhattan Beach, Calif., native finished the season with a team-best 506 kills – leading the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in that category. She was named to the All-ACC Team, as well as being tabbed an All-AVCA East Region selection.
Carico would go on to finish the year with a team-best 4.36 kills per set average while hoisting a .257 clip (506-167-1320). She ended the year second on the team in digs (402) and tied for second in service aces (21). Her 506 kills on the year allowed her to move into second place all-time at Miami for kills in a single season.
Cassie Loessberg (Sr., LIB/DS) picked up two awards on the evening, taking home both the 100% Award and Most Inspirational Award, respectively. Loessberg ended the 2009 season picking up All-ACC Team accomplishments, as well as being tabbed an AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) All-America Honorable Mention. She led the league in digs per set (5.03), and brought in a team-leading 584 total digs for the campaign. She was also named a CVU.com (Collegiate Volleyball Update) Player of the week during the year, while going on to have her story of being a United States Marine Reserve published by the AVCA and USA Volleyball.
The 100% Award is given annually to the player who exemplifies a dedication of 100 percent day-in and day-out.
The Sacramento, Calif., native ended the year ranking 31st nationally for digs per set, and had 14 matches in which she registered 20-or more digs. She also became Miami’s all-time leader in digs on the year, entering into a special group of players in ACC history to garner 2,000-or more digs in a career – finishing with 2,008 through her four seasons in Coral Gables. Her 4.43 digs per set average sits atop the all-time UM record books, and ranks first in UM history with 133 service aces (0.29 per set).
The Most Improved Player Award went to Christine Williamson (So., RS) from Tampa, Fla. On the year, Williamson emerged as a break-out player for the `Canes, stepping in for the injured Genny Mayhew to post 11 double-digit kills matches. She finished fourth on the squad with 220 kills (2.32 per set), and put down 38 blocks (30 assisted). During the NCAA Tournament [Gainesville Regional], Williamson turned in a career-high tying 19 kills on a .283 clip (19-6-46), adding a dig and two assisted blocks against FIU.
The Unsung Hero Award went to Menlo Park, Calif., native – Lizzie Hale (Fr., OH/RS). On the year, Hale’s serving prowess proved instrumental for the Hurricanes, while she finished the year fourth on the team in with 18 service aces. Hale also turned in 199 digs and four assisted blocks, providing seven kills in the process.
The final award of the evening, the Academic Award, went to Griffin Udelson (Sr., DS). Udelson, a past winner of this prestigious off-the-court honor in 2007, battled injury for most of her UM career, and helped the Hurricanes on and off the court with enthusiasm and spirit that could not come in a stat sheet.
The Attleboro, Mass., native led the `Canes all season with the team’s highest GPA, and is majoring in biology while working towards a minor in chemistry, psychology and exercise physiology. Additionally, she plans on attending dental school next year.
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.
