@CanesVB Ready for No. 9 UNC & NC State
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami volleyball team heads to North Carolina for a pair of challenging ACC matches this weekend.
The Canes, who are on a five-match winning streak, head to Chapel Hill to face No. 9 North Carolina on Friday at 6 p.m., while they will close out the weekend with a 1 p.m. match in Raleigh against NC State Sunday.
“I think we need to continue playing consistently like we have been this whole season,” senior Emani Sims said. “We’ve been working on the things we need to improve on. We have good momentum, but we need to stay humble. We have some wins under our belt, but that doesn’t mean much once you take the court. North Carolina is one of the top teams in the country and NC State is a competitive team so we are going to have to play well this weekend.”
Sims joins Savanah Leaf as captains of the 2014 Hurricanes and the seniors are instrumental to Miami’s success. A year ago, the Canes defeated 12th-ranked UNC in five sets thanks to a then career-high 25 kills by Leaf and a match-high eight blocks from Sims.
Leaf has been a force in 2014, posting 4.70 kills/set to lead the ACC and rank 10th in the country. The senior recently became the eighth Hurricane to join the 1,000-kill club and was tabbed one of 10 finalist for the 2014 Senior CLASS Award in women’s volleyball.
Sims and fellow middle blocker Sakile Simmons have been active blockers at the net with Sims leading the Canes with 86 blocks, while Simmons has tallied 76 blocks on the year. Sims is also an efficient hitter, ranking fourth in the conference and 36th in the country with a .383 attack percentage.
Freshman Haley Templeton has been a key player for the Canes. The setter, who ranks second in the ACC with 10.85 assists/set, has twice been named ACC Freshman of the Week and ranks third on the team with 19 service aces.
Sophomore Kelsie Groot has been an all-around contributor for the Hurricanes. Her 22 service aces lead the team, while she ranks second in digs (190) and fourth in kills (148) and blocks (45).
Juniors Taylor Scott and Kaylsta White complete Miami’s projected starters. Scott ranks second on the team with 154 kills, while White is the team leader in digs with 218.
Freshmen Michele Marenus, Brooke McDermott and Sylvia Hernandez, as well as senior Blair Fuentez and juniors Caitilin Donahoe and Misty Ma’a, provide depth for the Hurricanes heading into their weekend in North Carolina.
Following this weekend’s matches at UNC and NC State, Miami returns to the James L. Knight Sports Complex to host Louisville and Virginia. The Canes will welcome Louisville to the ACC on Nov. 7 at 7 p.m., while Virginia will face Miami at 1 p.m. on Nov. 9. Admission is free to both matches.
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