@CanesVB Opens ACC Play vs. Notre Dame & Duke
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – After a playing challenging nonconference slate over the past month, the University of Miami volleyball team is set to open its Atlantic Coast Conference schedule this weekend.
The Canes will host Notre Dame on Friday at 7 p.m. in the James L. Knight Sports Complex and will travel to Durham, N.C., for a Sunday afternoon match against Duke. Admission is free to Friday’s match against the Fighting Irish and Sunday’s match against the Blue Devils will be broadcasted on ESPN3 beginning at 1 p.m.
Miami heads into Friday’s ACC opener undefeated on their home floor. The Hurricanes are 5-0 at the James L. Knight Sports Complex this season, dropping just one of 16 home sets played. The Canes have earned wins over Seton Hall, Florida A&M, Florida Gulf Coast, UNCG and reigning SEC champion Missouri.
“We take a lot of pride in playing on our own floor in front of our fans,” senior Blair Fuentez said. “It’s really important for us to play well here.”
The Canes are coming off a perfect 2-0 weekend at the Hurricane Challenge, where they defeated UNCG and Missouri. Senior Emani Sims believes Miami’s nonconference slate, which included matches against 2013 national runner-up Wisconsin, TCU, UALR, Missouri State, Ball State, and Prairie View A&M, prepared the Canes for a challenging ACC season.
“I think coming off of this weekend it’s a good start for us, especially playing two competitive teams,” Sims said. “I am excited for ACC play to finally start, to get the season going and do the best that we possibly can do.”
Sims is one of two senior captains for the Hurricanes and she and fellow captain Savanah Leaf play key roles in Miami’s success. Leaf ranks second in the ACC and 25th in the nation with 4.29 kills/set, while Sims is third in the ACC and 39th in the country with a .397 attack percentage.
Junior Taylor Scott and sophomore Kelsie Groot are two other members of the Canes who have contributed to Miami’s success. Scott had a big weekend at the Hurricane Challenge, registering 31 kills and 18 digs, while Groot was impressive in three matches at the Hurricane Invitational, tallying 27 kills and 27 digs.
Setter Haley Templeton paces a Miami attack that ranks fifth in the conference with a .260 hitting percentage. Templeton, who had 89 assists in two matches at the Hurricane Challenge, leads the ACC with 10.66 assists/set. The Alpharetta, Ga., native is 10th nationally among freshmen in assists/set.
Junior defensive specialist Kalysta White anchors Miami’s back row defense, ranking 10th in the ACC with 3.37 digs/set. Freshman Sakile Simmons combines with Sims to form a gifted tandem of middle blockers. Simmons’ 40 blocks rank second to Sims’ 46 so far this season.
Miami also gets contributions from Fuentez and juniors Caitilin Donahoe and Misty Ma’a, as well as freshmen Brooke McDermott, Sylvia Hernandez and Michele Marenus. The group gives head coach Jose “Keno” Gandara the depth and ability to make adjustments to his lineup that will maximize Miami’s potential.
The Hurricanes will look to defend their home court again this Friday against Notre Dame and they are excited to open conference play at home in front of their supportive Hurricane fan base.
“Playing at home is a confidence builder,” Leaf said. “We have great support here. Winning at home always gives us confidence. It’s a great environment here and we always want to make our fans and school proud.”
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