UM Set for Road Trip at Maryland and Boston College

Oct. 13, 2010

Complete Match Notes in PDF Format

Coral Gables, Fla. – The University of Miami travels north this weekend, taking on Maryland and Boston College in a pair of Atlantic Coast Conference matches. The `Canes are seeking the opportunity to step above the .500 mark in the ACC this weekend, but will need wins over both Maryland and Boston College in order to do so.

Miami (13-5, 3-4 ACC) is set to play its third and fourth road matches this year, with the `Canes dropping their previous two matches at UNC and NC State two weeks ago. The `Canes will open the weekend slate at Maryland on Fri., Oct. 15 at 5:30 p.m. They will then travel further north to close-out the weekend at Boston College on Sun., Oct. 17 at 12:30 p.m.

With the `Canes hitting at a .254 clip on the year, they sit second in the league in hitting percentage, led by junior middle blocker Ali Becker (Katy, Texas) with a .350 percentage. Becker ranks eighth in the conference in hitting percentage, while redshirt junior setter Katie Gallagher (Winter Park, Fla.) owns a .350 clip (59k-11e-136ta).

Gallagher leads the ACC in assists with 667 (10.93 per set) in helping the Hurricanes as the top-rated team in assists in the league at 900 (13.43 per set). Additionally, Miami leads the ACC in kills with 961 (14.34 per set), behind the strength of junior outside hitter Lane Carico (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) with a league fourth-best 224 kills (3.34 per set).

While leading the team in service aces, Carico also sits fourth in the league in that department with 23 (0.34 per set). Defensively, freshman libero Ryan Shaffer is coming into her own, sitting ninth in the conference with a UM team-tying high of 241 digs (3.83 per set). Carico is also atop the `Canes leader board with 241 digs (3.60 per set).

UM head coach Nicole Lantagne Welch, a 1994 graduate of the University of Maryland, is seeking her third consecutive win on the road against her alma mater. Last season, UM swept the Terrapins, 3-0, in College Park behind strong performances from Carico and Lici McGee (Warr Acres, Okla.).

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and the University of Miami is also continuing its drive to support breast cancer awareness through the “Side-Out Foundation” before the `Canes take part in their “Dig Pink” match against Wake Forest on Sun., Oct. 24. Prior to and during the match, the Hurricanes will wear pink warm-up T-shirts, as well as pink ribbons and other apparel during their match against the Demon Deacons.

To support the Hurricanes’ cause and give your donation to help support breast cancer awareness, please visit http://www.side-out.org/application/teams/team_page/1727.

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.

Quick Hits on Maryland…
Maryland enters Friday’s matchup against the Hurricanes with a 13-6 overall record (4-3 ACC). The Terrapins split their last set of matches against Virginia Tech and Virginia a week ago on the road.

The Terps are 8-1 at home on the year, led on offense by Mary Cushman with a team-high 207 kills (2.96 per set). Behind her is last season’s kills leader Maddie Lee (147) and Lisa Scott (146). Scott holds a team-best .346 attack percentage for the Terps, ranking among the top 10 in the league.

The setter for the Terrapins is Remy McBain with a team-high 667 assists. Digs are accumulated by libero Bethany Springer with a team-leading 303 (4.33 per set), as well as Sarah Harper with 164 (2.34 per set).

Series against the Terrapins…
The University of Maryland leads the all-time series against Miami with a 7-5 count. However, UM has won the last three meetings against the Terps, including the first-ever sweep of Maryland in a two-match series during the 2008 campaign.

Quick Hits on Boston College…
Boston College comes into the weekend sporting an 8-12 overall record, and a mark of 0-7 in the ACC. The Eagles come into the weekend riding on a seven-match losing skid, but have played their opponents tough during that stretch. The last win for BC came at home against Holy Cross on Sept. 18.

The Eagles are led by Tsvetelina Dureva with 231 kills, while teammates Brennan Clark (182) and Val Mattaliano (162) are also over the 150-kill plateau. The setter for the Eagles is Krissy Mussenden, leading the squad with 351 assists (9.24 per set). Kristen Baader leads the squad in digs with 322 (4.47 per set) and Brennan Clark has 274 (3.81 per set).

Series against the Eagles…
Against Boston College, the Hurricanes of Miami own an all-time record of 9-2. UM has won the last four meetings, including 3-0 sweeps in three of those contests. The last BC win against the `Canes came back on 3-0 count back on Oct. 12, 2007.

Miami Volleyball – 10 Years Strong…
When the Hurricanes host Duke on Oct. 22, head coach Nicole Lantagne Welch and the Hurricanes program will be celebrating this year as the 10th anniversary of the return of Hurricanes volleyball to Coral Gables. Lantagne Welch and her staff will be honoring all former `Canes in attendance at the match, as all are invited to come back for this special event.