Carico Leads Miami Volleyball Past Auburn, 3-0
Sept. 3, 2010
Murfreesboro, Tenn. – Junior Lane Carico staked nine kills, while two other Hurricanes collected seven, to help lead the University of Miami volleyball team past Auburn University, 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-20) on Friday evening inside the Murphy Center in opening-day action of the Blue Raider Bash in Murfreesboro, Tenn. The event is being host by Middle Tennessee State University.
Miami (4-1) collected its second consecutive sweep, in the process handing the previously unbeaten Tigers of Auburn (4-1) their first setback on the 2010 campaign.
The opening set stood tied at 15, before UM embarked upon a 3-0 run, sparked by a kill from Lane Carico and a service ace from freshman Alexandria Johnson, opening up an 18-15 UM advantage. Auburn’s Kelly Fidero quickly ended the run to begin a Tigers rally that charged her team out to a 20-19 edge, courtesy two Fidero blocks and a kill from teammate Sarah Bullock.
The Tigers led, 23-21, following a UM attack error. However, that would be the last Auburn point as UM 10th-year head coach Nicole Lantagne Welch called a timeout, and then proceeded to lead the `Canes to a 5-0 run to close the set with a 25-23 win. Senior Ariell Cooke and juniors Christine Williamson and Carico earned kills along the way. For Carico, six of her team-high nine kills in the match came during the opening frame.
In the second set, it was the play of junior middle blocker Ali Becker and freshman Johnson – each collecting three kills in the frame, to help the Hurricanes, once again, erase a late deficit.
With Auburn’s Fidero picking up five of her match-high 10 kills in the second set, the Tigers also looked towards Bullock for a pivotal kill that contributed to the team’s 19-16 advantage late in the set. Miami countered with two kills and two blocks each from Williamson and Becker, helping the Hurricanes erase the deficit, in turn taking a 20-19 lead following an Auburn attack error.
Another Williamson kill and three Tigers mistakes later – including a set error and service error, led to the UM victory in the frame, 25-20.
Dropping just one (1) third set all season (vs. Wichita State, 8/28), Miami used stellar play from Williamson and Becker once again, earning the set and match win to close-out the sweep.
The late-set heroics seemed to be the trend on the night, as the `Canes saw themselves down, 18-15, following a Katherine Cuwell kill off the set of Chelsea Wintzinger. The Tigers’ lead was previously at 16-15 when Cooke and Williamson combined at the net for a block, with Cooke claiming another solo block moments earlier.
Miami’s Williamson sparked a furious 7-0 `Canes rally when she registered a kill, while Williamson and Becker recorded block assists – added a Lizzie Hale service ace, to put the Hurricanes on top, 22-18. It would be Katy, Texas native Becker taking the next two points for the `Canes, as she delivered a kill and a solo block to put UM up, 24-19. Johnson finished the set and match for UM as she tallied her second kill of the third frame to end it.
Auburn was led on the night by Fidero’s 10 kills, and Bullock chipped in with nine kills and six digs. The Tigers’ two-setter system of Christina Solverson (17 assists) and Wintzinger (19 assists) setup the offense, with the defense paced by libero Liz Crouch with a match-high 16 digs.
Miami was charged by the play of Carico with nine kills and eight digs, while Becker hit at a .417 clip on the night, earning six kills and a match-high five blocks (four assisted). Johnson and Williamson each provided seven kills, as Johnson also staked 12 digs and two blocks (assisted).
Freshmen Taylor Hollins and Ryan Shaffer picked up good playing time on the night as Shaffer saw action at libero, earning eight digs and two assists. Hollins contributed with two kills and three digs.
On Saturday, the `Canes will take part in two matches against Southern Miss (3 p.m.) and Georgia Southern (7 p.m.). All times are set for Central Standard (CST).
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.
