@CanesVB Set to Host NC State and No. 12 UNC
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Canes are back in Coral Gables and ready to host NC State and No. 12 North Carolina in a pair of conference matches.
Miami (13-7, 6-4 ACC) returns home for the first time since Oct. 13. The Canes will host NC State at 7 p.m. on Nov. 1. Two days later, the Hurricanes will host North Carolina at 1 p.m. in the Knight Sports Complex. This will be the first of four home weekends for the Canes in November.
The Hurricanes feature a balanced attack with contributions coming from several key players. Junior Savanah Leaf is Miami’s kill leader with 293. The outside hitter ranks third in the ACC with 3.86 kills/set and is sixth in the conference with 0.34 aces/set.
Senior Alex Johnson (206 kills) and junior Alexis Mourning (163) are two other key hitters for the Canes. Mourning is also an impact player defensively at the net, ranking second for Miami with 80 blocks on the season. Junior middle blocker Emani Sims, who ranks fourth in the ACC with a .361 hitting percentage, is Miami’s top blocker with 92.
The Canes feature two talented setters in Blair Fuentez and Caitilin Donahoe. Fuentez, a junior, has helped Miami go 13-1 when she records at least 33 assists in a match. Donahoe, a sophomore, recorded a career-high 64 assists in a nonconference match against Long Beach State on Sept. 7. Donahoe will face off against a familiar face in Sunday’s match as her former high school teammate Leigh Andrew is an outside hitter for the Tar Heels.
Senior defensive specialist Ryan Shaffer plays a key role for Miami’s back row defense. The San Jose, Calif., native has at least 15 digs in 13 matches this season and ranks third in the ACC with 4.58 digs/set.
Sophomore Misty Ma’a is another contributor for the Canes. Ma’a does a little bit of everything for Miami, ranking in the top five in kills, assists and digs on this year’s squad.
Following this weekend’s two-match homestand, the Hurricanes will hit the road for the final time in the 2013 regular season. Miami will travel to Virginia for a 7 p.m. at Virginia Tech on Nov. 8. They will take on the UVA Cavaliers at 7 p.m. on Nov. 9 to wrap up their last trip away from the Knight Sports Complex.
Single-game volleyball tickets are just $5 for adults and $3 for youth (Ages 3-17). For more information or to purchase tickets, visit CanesTix.com or call 305-284-2263. For all the latest information on Miami Hurricanes volleyball, follow the official Twitter feed, @CanesVB, or “Like Us” on Facebook at facebook.com/UMVolleyball. The program is also on Instagram (CanesVB).
