UM Volleyball Picked Fifth In ACC

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The University of Miami volleyballteam was predicted to finish fifth in the Atlantic Coast Conference in a pollof the league’s head coaches, the conference announced Friday. Additionally, juniorright side Alex Johnson and sophomore middle blocker Emani Sims were both namedto the Preseason All-ACC Team.

“The ACChas become an incredibly competitive volleyball conference, and one that hasreceived four to five bids to the NCAA Tournament over the past several years,including great results in the NCAA’s,” said head coach Nicole Lantagne Welch, whois entering her 12^th season at UM. “We respect every program butalso realize it is our results on the court and where everyone finishes at theend of the season that is most important.”

TheHurricanes are coming off a 16-4 mark and second-place finish in the ACC a yearago. The team went 26-5 overall and advanced to the second round of the NCAATournament after defeating Northern Illinois in the Ames Regional. The 2012roster includes 10 returning letterwinners and three starters plus the libero.

Miamireceived votes in the Preseason AVCA Division I Coaches Poll released earlierthis week.

“Althoughmany outsiders see that we have lost several starters from our team a year ago,we know that our current team is strong, has depth, and we have very capableplayers ready to step in and have a strong season,” Lantagne Welch continued. “Welook forward to getting started next weekend.”

UM addedfive newcomers to the team over the offseason, including sophomore transfer andOlympian Savanah Leaf. Overall, the recruiting class was ranked No. 27 in thenation according to PrepVolleyball.com.

Johnsonand Sims were voted to the 18-member Preseason All-ACC Team in a vote of theleague’s 12 head coaches. The Canes are one of six teams to have multipleselections.

Johnson,who has started every match of her career, led all returning players with 390kills a season ago while also recording 108 assists and 340 digs. She notchedseven double-doubles on the year, including one in the NCAA victory overNorthern Illinois.

Simsreturns to the middle of the net after posting a team-high 105 blocks in herfreshman season. Named the ACC Freshman of the Week on Nov. 7, she had at least10 kills in seven matches and blocked five or more attacks on six occasions.The middle blocker started all 31 matches and finished ninth in the ACC with a.316 hitting percentage.

TheHurricanes will hold the Orange and Green Scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 18 withseveral alums set to also compete. The 2012 campaign will officially open withthe Hurricane Invitational on Aug. 24 and 25 at the Knight Sports Complex. Teamsscheduled to attend include Wofford, Ole Miss, Rutgers and Samford.

Theticket office is pleased to offer season tickets for both volleyball and soccerfor just $50. Season tickets to the home volleyball schedule at the KnightComplex can be purchased for $35, with single match tickets available for aslow as $3. Call 1-800-GO-CANES to order your tickets today.

Followingthe Green and Orange Scrimmage, the University of Miami will be hosting itsannual BankUnitedCanesFest from 4-7p.m. at the BankUnited Center on the UM campus. Fans in attendance will havethe chance to pick up the new 2012 Miami Football poster, receive autographsfrom Hurricane players and coaches, purchase season tickets, and much more.

For all the latest information on the MiamiHurricanes, follow the official Twitter feed, @HurricaneSports, or “Like Us” onFacebook at facebook.com/MiamiHurricanes. Follow @CanesVB on Twitter forspecific news on UM volleyball.

2012 ACC Volleyball Predicted Order of Finish

2012 Preseason All-ACC Team