Volleyball to Participate in UCF Spring Fling
March 25, 2011
UCF Spring Fling Tournament Schedule in PDF Format 
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – For the second time in three years, the University of Miami volleyball team travels to Orlando for the annual UCF Spring Fling, this year benefitting the Central Florid Children’s Home. The first matches are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., and admission is just $5 – with all proceeds benefitting the Central Florida Children’s Hospital.
All matches will be played inside The Venue at UCF, which houses as many as four different playing courts of action at a time.
For the Hurricanes, the one-day tournament marks the second of four non-traditional dates of competition, having already beaten cross-town opponent FIU by a 5-0 margin on March 12. Under the direction of 10th-year head coach Nicole Lantagne Welch, the `Canes have been practicing since late February/early March at the James L. Knight Sports Complex on the UM campus in Coral Gables.
“We are looking forward to playing in Orlando and facing five different teams,” said Lantagne Welch – the 2008 Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year. “This will be a great measuring stick for us as we continue to prepare for the fall. Going against different teams and styles gives our returnees not only great experience, but the opportunity to adjust and learn more about ourselves.”
Aside from the host UCF Knights, there will be 14 additional teams taking part in Saturday’s event, including a total of five NCAA Tournament teams from the 2010 season – adding the Hurricanes who played in the NCAA Bloomington [Ind.] Regional against host Indiana University. Florida, Florida State, Auburn and Georgia Southern join the Hurricanes as NCAA Tournament participants from this past fall.
Miami opens Saturday with a 10 a.m. meeting with Atlantic Coast Conference rival Florida State, immediately followed by an 11 a.m. match with Auburn. The Hurricanes and Seminoles split last year’s regular season matches, with the away team winning each time. Miami’s meeting with Auburn is a rematch from last year’s Blue Raider Bash (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) opening round match, with the `Canes sweeping the Tigers on scores of 25-23, 25-20 and 25-20.
The `Canes have a break for lunch before returning to the courts against the University of Florida in a highly-anticipated affair set to begin at 1 p.m. The `Canes conclude the day’s matches with host UCF (3 p.m.), and playing their final match against North Florida at 5 p.m.
The Orlando-based campus is hosting the UCF Spring Fling after its inaugural success in 2010. Last spring, the Knights raised $540 dollars through entry fees and admission to the event and donated all proceeds to the Central Florida Children’s Home.
The Hurricanes are coming off their second 20-win season in three years, amassing a record of 23-9 en route to their second consecutive NCAA Tournament, all under the guise of Lantagne Welch. Junior outside hitter Lane Carico became the first player in school history to be named to the AVCA All-America Team after also becoming the first player in UM history to collect 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in a career.
UCF will also welcome the Professional Association of Volleyball Officials (PAVO) to the tournament for the second-straight year. The PAVO will once again hold its refereeing clinic at The Venue at UCF, while adding a line judge clinic and a scorekeeper’s clinic to its agenda as well.
Keep it locked to HurricaneSports.com for a complete rundown of Saturday’s matches (including scores and individual stats provided by the Hurricanes coaching staff), or visit the official tournament website at UCFathletics.com.
For more information on the University of Miami volleyball team, please log on to 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.
