Volleyball Concludes Sixth Annual Alumni Match

Volleyball Concludes Sixth Annual Alumni Match

Aug. 21, 2010

Coral Gables, Fla. – Head volleyball coach Nicole Lantagne Welch and the University of Miami volleyball team concluded the Sixth Annual Alumni Match on Sat., Aug. 21, with the 2010 `Canes squad defeating the Alumni team, 3-1, at the James L. Knight Sports Complex in Coral Gables, Fla. The 2010 Hurricanes took the match on scores of 25-21, 25-17, 23-25, and 25-18.

With 16 student-athletes on the 2010 roster for the `Canes, 15 of those players saw action in Saturday’s exhibition contest against six members from the UM alumni team, including last 2009 All-ACC selection Cassie Loessberg.

The 2010 Hurricanes opened the match taking the first set, 25-21, hitting .410 in the set. Junior Lane Carico led the `Canes in the first set with seven kills and seven digs. She ended the day seeing action in just the first two sets, amassing a double-double of 11 kills and 13 digs, hitting at a .524 clip.

In the second set, senior middle blocker Lici McGee led the charge for the 2010 `Canes, putting down six of her match-high 14 kills along the way. In the set, the Alumni team was led in kills by UM all-time digs leader, Loessberg, with four kills, while Karla Johnson added three.

The Alumni squad took the third set, 25-23, behind six kills from Johnson, assisted by Maria Andersson with three.

In the fourth and final set, McGee and fellow senior Ariell Cooke each tallied five kills to help the 2010 `Canes to the 25-18 edge. Cooke finished the afternoon with eight kills, two digs and a block – all coming in the final two sets.

Playing well in the match for UM was junior outside hitter Christine Williamson, picking up a double-double of 12 kills and 10 digs. Sophomore setter Nrithya Sundararaman finished with a double-double effort of a match-high 58 assists and 10 digs. Freshmen liberos Ryan Shaffer and Mariel Schofield combined for 25 digs, using a match-high tying 13 from San Jose, Calif., native Shaffer.

The Alumni team was led by Johnson’s 12-kill, six-dig performance. Teammate Loessberg added 11 kills and 11 digs for a double-double effort, while Andersson provided 10 kills and 12 digs. Ashley Woods, fresh off her professional tour in Spain this past spring, registered eight kills, eight digs and two solo blocks.

The 2010 season for the `Canes officially gets underway Aug. 27-28, when Miami travels to the Sooner Legends/Nike Invitational hosted by the University of Oklahoma. UM will open with UT-Arlington on Fri., Aug. 27, followed by a two-match schedule with Wichita State and Oklahoma the following day.

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.

You can also keep up-to-date with all UM Athletics via twitter at Twitter.com/HurricaneSports.