Volleyball Defeats First-Place NC State, 3-1
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miamivolleyball team defeated North Carolina State, 3-1, on Friday at the KnightSports Complex to move into a tie for first place in the Atlantic CoastConference standings. The Canes won their 13th straight at home tosnap the Wolfpack’s 10-match winning streak.
UMwon by set scores of 25-23, 25-17, 20-25 and 25-15 to improve to 13-3 on theyear and 5-1 in the ACC, while NCSU dropped to 15-2 and 5-1.
“Wejust beat a great team that was on a huge winning streak and knows how to win,”head coach Nicole Lantagne Welch said. “I thought we played some nicevolleyball and put together a nice defensive effort.”
Sophomoremiddle blocker Alexis Mourning had a match-high 13 kills to lead theHurricanes, while junior Taylor Hollins recorded her 12th double-doubleof the season with 12 kills and 10 digs. Senior setter Nrithya Sundararaman had36 assists.
Defensively,junior libero Ryan Shaffer notched a season-high 30 digs in the back row tohelp hold the Wolfpack to a .089 hitting percentage. Miami hit at a .214 clipfor the match.
Inthe first set, NC State went up 23-20 and seemed poised to take the opener, butthe Canes rallied to win the next five points to go up 1-0 in the match. Thatmomentum continued in the second, as Miami went on a 16-6 run to take acommanding advantage that would not be relinquished.
NCState, who had played their previous 13 matches at home, responded after theintermission to win the third set to cut the deficit to 2-1. The Wolfpack then eventhe score at 10 in the fourth with sights set on forcing a deciding fifth frame.However, the Hurricanes reeled in 11 of the next 13 points to go up 21-12. UMwon sealed the win on an attack error from NCSU.
BrieMerriwether led the visitors with 10 kills, while Alston Kearns had 21 digs.
Miamiwill look to continue its winning ways at home on Sunday against North Carolina(13-3, 4-2 ACC), who fell to Florida State, 3-0, on Friday. First serve is setfor 1 p.m. at the Knight Sports Complex.
NOTES
Miamihas won 24 of the last 25 at home … the Canes picked up six service aces … Alex Johnson tied her career high with six total blocks … 12 different UM playerssaw action in the match … Kelsie Groot had two kills in two attempts … SavanahLeaf had double-digit digs (11) … Miami is 13-0 when having a higher attackpercentage … there were 16 ties and seven lead changes in the match.
The UMTicket Office is pleased to offer single game tickets to home volleyball matchesat the Knight Complex for as low as $3. Call 1-800-GO-CANES to order yourtickets today.
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