Lantagne Welch Hits Milestone at Maryland

Lantagne Welch Hits Milestone at Maryland

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Sophomore outside hitter SavanahLeaf broke through for a match-high 13 kills and the University of Miamivolleyball team defeated Maryland in straight sets on Friday at ComcastPavilion.

Headcoach Nicole Lantagne Welch, who played collegiate volleyball at Maryland,earned her 100th career Atlantic Coast Conference victory.

UM(15-3, 7-1 ACC) improved its winning streak to five matches with set scores of26-24, 26-24 and 25-17. The Terrapins fell to 10-9 overall and 2-6 in theleague.

“Milestoneslike this are special because they are about the people – players and staff – thatyou surround yourself with to get there,” Lantagne Welch said. “I have beenfortunate to be around a great group of Canes.”

Leaf’s13 kills were her season-high in an ACC match. She also had eight digs on thenight. The Canes recorded a hitting percentage of .325 in the match, with juniorright side Alex Johnson, sophomore middle blocker Emani Sims and junior outsidehitter Taylor Hollins each notching nine kills in the balanced UM attack.Senior setter Nrithya Sundararaman put up 38 assists.

Defensively,junior libero Ryan Shaffer led Miami with nine digs.

Thefirst set was played evenly with 12 ties, and the Terps had a shot to win itwith a lead of 24-23. However, Hollins knocked down a kill to tie it up. Leafthen followed with a slam of her own and combined with sophomore middle blockerAlexis Mourning on a block to give UM the 26-24 set victory.

TheCanes came back once again in the next set, overcoming a 24-22 deficit to takea commanding 2-0 advantage. Down two set points, Leaf recorded a kill and twoMaryland attack errors swung the momentum the other way. Sims ended it with ablock solo going to intermission.

Withthe momentum in hand, Miami left no doubt in the third set. The Canes went upby as many as seven points and sealed the win on a kill by Johnson.

LantagneWelch, in her 12th season at the helm of the program, is now 100-70in ACC matches and 233-117 overall.

TheHurricanes will continue their weekend road trip with a noon match on Sunday atBoston College. The Eagles lost to Florida State, 3-0, Friday night.

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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