Miami Concludes Home Season with Win Over Maryland

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Junior Lane Carico amassed a match-high 18 kills and senior Ariell Cooke supplied nine to lead the University of Miami to a 3-0 sweep (25-9, 25-19, 25-18) of the University of Maryland in Atlantic Coast Conference volleyball action Sunday afternoon inside the James L. Knight Sports Complex.

Today’s match served as Senior Appreciation Day for the Hurricanes, as head coach Nicole Lantagne Welch and her staff paid tribute to middle blockers Ariell Cooke (Oakland, Calif.) and Lici McGee (Warr Acres, Okla.) prior to the match – playing in their last home match in the Orange and Green.

Miami (22-8, 12-7 Atlantic Coast Conference) came out hitting strong for the second consecutive match, eclipsing the .400 mark in the first set (.417) with 17 kills on 36 swings. The Hurricanes defense played well in the opener, limiting Maryland (19-12, 10-9 ACC) to just .054 hitting in the frame. In the match, Miami held Maryland to just .112 hitting overall.

Outside hitter Lane Carico (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) established herself in the `Canes offense early-on, charging Miami in the opener with seven kills and hitting at a .583 clip with no errors. Cooke was just as dominant in the middle, picking up four kills and hitting at a .571 percentage.

Through the first two sets, Miami trailed for a total of six service points (all in the beginning of the second set), riding a 7-2 run in the second frame to break away from the Terrapins when the set was tied, 6-6. An attack error charged to Maryland began the run, and a Carico kill finished it to put the homestanding `Canes up, 13-8.

With today’s match victory, Miami now shares third place in the league standings with in-state opponent Florida State after Maryland dropped a pair of matches this weekend to the Seminoles and `Canes, respectively. Miami has now rolled off four consecutive wins to end the home season with a record of 12-3 inside the James L. Knight Sports Complex. The `Canes have also won six of their last seven matches overall.

On the day, Maryland was led on offense by Kara Bates with eight kills and a block assist. Behind her was Mary Cushman with seven kills. Setter Remy McBain setup the offense with 24 assists, and libero Bethany Springer headed up the defense with 21 digs.

Miami was led by Carico’s 18 kills, giving her 15 consecutive matches with double-digit kills. Cooke supplied nine in her Hurricanes home finale, and junior middle blocker Ali Becker (Katy, Texas) added eight kills and a team-high three blocks (two assisted).