@CanesVB Heads to Texas for TCU Invitational
FORT WORTH, Texas – The University of Miami volleyball team travels to the Lone Star State for an appearance at the TCU NIKE Invitational.
The Canes will play three matches in Fort Worth, facing Arkansas-Little Rock Friday at 11 a.m. ET and returning to the court Friday night against the host TCU Horned Frogs at 9 p.m. ET. Miami’s final match of the weekend is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday against Prairie View A&M.
“We’re excited about it,” Miami head coach Jose “Keno” Gandara said. “We know last weekend was good and now we got to move on and do it again. But, I understand the challenges are different and not only from being on the road, but facing different teams. I think we made some progress this week, so we’ll see if we can show it on the weekend.”
The Hurricanes head into this weekend’s tournament fresh off an undefeated opening weekend at the Hurricane Invitational. Miami defeated Seton Hall, Florida A&M and Florida Gulf Coast in straight sets to open the season 3-0.
After one weekend of action, the Canes are the top team in the ACC in hitting percentage (.315). Miami is also in the top five in the ACC in kills (third, 15.11/set), service aces (third, 1.56/set), opponent hitting percentage (fourth, .117), assists (fourth, 13.67/set) and digs (fourth, 14.89/set).
Senior captains Savanah Leaf and Emani Sims will be counted on to lead the Hurricanes this weekend in Texas. Leaf, who ranks third in the ACC with 4.75 kills/set, tallied 38 kills in the opening weekend. Her 20 kills in the season opener against Seton Hall are the second-most in a three-set match in program history. Sims, who is fifth in the ACC with a .417 attack percentage, is a key player on offense and defense for Miami. The senior leads the Canes with five service aces and ranks second on the team in blocks with 12.
Freshman setter Haley Templeton keeps the Miami attack balanced. The Alpharetta, GA., native dished out 87 assists in the season-opening weekend, including 40 in her collegiate debut against Seton Hall. Templeton is also a threat to attack, collecting seven kills on 13 attempts over the first three matches of the season.
Sophomore Kelsie Groot and junior Taylor Scott have also been key contributors for the Canes early in 2014. Groot leads Miami with 13 blocks, ranking seventh in the ACC with 1.44 blocks/set. Scott is currently eighth in the ACC with 3.71 kills/set.
Defensive specialist Kalysta White anchored Miami’s back row in the opening weekend. The junior ranks second in the ACC with 5.33 digs/set.
Freshman middle blocker Sakile Simmons impressed in her first taste of college volleyball. The Houston native picked up 11 blocks, helping Miami’s defense shine. Simmons, who is one of three Texas natives on the 2014 squad, is excited to be playing in her home state this weekend.
“As soon as the schedule came out, I was looking forward to coming to Texas,” Simmons said. “It’s going to be pretty exciting and I feel blessed. I have a lot of family and friends coming. It’s almost like going back and playing a high school game in front of people you know. There is a different type of comfort playing in front of your family really. I feel lucky.”
Freshmen Brooke McDermott and Sylvia Hernandez, as well as juniors Caitilin Donahoe and Misty Ma’a and senior Blair Fuentez, provide depth for the Canes. The talented group gives Gandara several options to mix and match as he looks to put the Hurricanes in the best position to succeed.
“The obvious challenge is playing on the road, getting familiar with the routines of traveling and dealing with that stuff,” Miami head coach Jose “Keno” Gandara said. “It’s different competition and different after a week of practice. It just brings up different challenges and we just hope to continue to do what we are capable of doing a little better each weekend.”
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