Miami Opens NCAA Tournament with Indiana

Dec. 2, 2010

Complete Match Notes in PDF Format

Bloomington, Ind. – The University of Miami volleyball team will open its 2010 NCAA Tournament run against host Indiana University at University Gym on Fri., Dec. 3, at 7 p.m. (EST). Live stats for the match are available through Game Tracker at HurricaneSports.com, while a free live audio/video stream of all matches will be available through the IU Athletics website (IUHoosiers.com).

Miami (23-8) is making its second consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament earning an at-large bid out of the Atlantic Coast Conference, finishing the regular season third in the league and ranked No. 18 in the RPI power poll. The Hoosiers earned at at-large bid out of the Big Ten Conference.

Miami faced FIU in last year’s Gainesville [Fla.] Regional, while advancing to the “Sweet 16” of the 2002 tournament in just the second year the program was brought back after almost a 20-year hiatus. UM holds a record of 2-2 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, with wins over Duke and No. 15 Wisconsin in 2002–and falling to No. 4 Nebraska that year.

If successful in the first round, possible second round opponents include No. 11-seed Tennessee or Alabama A&M. Tennessee earned an at-large bid out of the Southeastern Conference, finishing the regular season in third place in the SEC East, while Alabama A&M won the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament title, earning an automatic bid. Due to IU being the home/host team for the tournament regional site, Miami has been seeded No. 3 for the Bloomington [Ind.] matches, with Tennessee – No. 1; Indiana – No. 2; and Alabama A&M – No. 4.

The Hurricanes use three-time All-ACC performer Lane Carico (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) to power the team in kills, leading the squad with 455 (3.86 per set), as well as Christine Williamson (Tampa, Fla.) contributing with 326 kills (2.79 per set). For Williamson, this year’s kills total has doubled her personal season-best total of 220 set last year.

Redshirt junior setter Katie Gallagher (Winter Park, Fla.) sets up the offense with 1,167 assists (10.81 per set), and Ryan Shaffer (San Jose, Calif.) sparks the defense with 520 digs (4.56 per set). The blockers for UM are Ali Becker (Katy, Texas) with a team-best 93 blocks, followed by senior Ariell Cooke (Oakland, Calif.) with 78.

Shaffer, a freshman, is the all-time freshman class leader for digs, surpassing Carico who held 416 in 2008. She is also the first UM freshman libero to record two 30-plus digs matches in a single season. Gallagher is playing in her first-ever NCAA Tournament match after missing last year’s event due to injury.

All matches in the Bloomington [Ind.] section of the tournament are part of the Dayton [Ohio] Regional, where all “Sweet 16” and Quarterfinals matches for this portion of the bracket will take place in Dayton.

For information on all other ACC schools in action during the NCAA Tournament, please log on to www.theacc.com.

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 keep up-to-date with all UM Athletics via twitter at Twitter.com/HurricaneSports. You can also become a fan of the ‘Canes on Facebook at Facebook.com/MiamiHurricanes.

Quick Hits on Indiana
The University of Indiana enters the tournament with a record of 21-11, finishing the Big Ten season with a record of 9-11. However, the Hoosiers are 11-2 at home this season. They are led on offense by Jordan Haverly with kills (3.54 per set) and Ashley Benson with 385 kills (3.50 per set).

The Hoosiers use two players with 100-plus blocks, led on the year by Benson with 157 (1.43 per set), followed by Taylor Wittmer with 116 (1.08 per set). As a team, Indiana averages 2.68 blocks per set, holding opponents to 2.09 blocks per set. The setter for the Hoosiers is Mary Chaudoin leading the team with 822 assists (7.75 per set). The defense is charged by libero Caitlin Cox with 460 digs (4.04 per set).

Series Against the Hoosiers
This will be the third meeting all-time between the Hurricanes and Hoosiers, with UM leading the all-time series by a 2-0 count. The last time these two teams met was on Aug. 30, 2002, seeing the `Canes take a 3-1 decision in the Hurricane Invitational in Coral Gables.

UM Sweeps ACC Weekly Awards Again
Outside hitter Lane Carico and libero Ryan Shaffer have been named as this week’s Atlantic Coast Conference Player and Rookie of the Week for the second consecutive week, as announced on Mon., Nov. 29, by the ACC Office in Greensboro, N.C.

Carico was named Player of the Week after amassing 21 kills and 14 digs in Miami’s 3-2 victory over in-state opponent Florida State on Fri., Nov. 26. The 21-kill, 14-dig performance allowed Carico her league-leading 25th double-double of the year, and her sixth 20-plus kills performance of the campaign. Last week, Carico was named to the All-ACC Team for the third consecutive season after being the only ACC player with 400-plus kills and 400-plus digs on the year.

Shaffer, a freshman from San Jose, Calif., tallied a match-high 30 digs in the Hurricanes’ win over the Seminoles. It marked her second 30-plus dig performance of the season after amassing a season-high 32 versus Duke on Oct. 22.

Miami Over the Last Five
Over the last five matches–all wins for the `Canes, Miami is swinging at a .289 average while holding opponents to a .191 hitting percentage. UM is averaging 16 kills per set, and has placed 20 service aces during that span.

Miami in the RPI Rankings
With wins against Clemson, Florida State, Maryland and North Carolina over the course of the last three weeks, the Hurricanes’ RPI rating jumped to No. 18 this week. Miami is 8-3 on the year against the RPI Top 50, and holds a 15-4 mark against the RPI Top 100.

Carico Tabbed All-ACC
Outside hitter Lane Carico was named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference Volleyball Team on Wed., Nov. 24, announced by ACC Commissioner John Swofford. For Carico, this year’s award is the third consecutive time she’s been selected to the All-conference team, also picking up ACC Freshman of the Year in 2008, as well as being named to the All-ACC Second Team and All-ACC Rookie Team. Carico charges Miami offensively with 455 kills (3.86 per set) – ranking her third overall in the ACC in that department. Carico is also third in the conference in points (516.5 / 4.38 per set), adding a team-best 38 service aces (0.32 per set) and 39 blocks (8 solo / 31 assisted).

On the year, Carico totes a .235 clip, while ranking second on the team in digs with 440 (3.73 per set). She is the only ACC player this season with 400-plus kill and 400-plus digs, with this being the second straight season she’s accomplished that task, finishing the 2009 campaign with a team-best 506 kills and 402 digs. Carico leads the league in double-doubles (25).

Live Audio/Video for Matches
All matches at the Bloomington [Ind.] site will feature free live video streams, as well as live audio for play-by-play with commentary for matches involving Indiana University. Fans can access the video/audio streams through the NCAA Tournament Central website at IUHoosiers.com.

In-Match Chat
HurricaneSports.com will feature a live gameday chat for fans to follow at home or in the office. To participate in the in-match chat below, return to this page 10-minutes prior to the start of the match. Live stats will also be available through Game Tracker at HurricaneSports.com.Volleyball: Miami at Indiana