@CanesVB Welcomes Louisville and Virginia
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – After two consecutive weekends on the road, the University of Miami volleyball team returns to familiar territory this week.
The Canes will be back in the James L. Knight Sports Complex to host Louisville and Virginia in a pair of ACC matches. Miami will welcome Louisville to the ACC on Nov. 7 at 7 p.m., while Virginia will face the Hurricanes at 1 p.m. on Nov. 9. Admission is free to both matches.
“I think it’s exciting to get to face a new team in the conference,” senior Emani Sims said. “We know they are a really good and competitive team, but the biggest thing is to focus on ourselves and what we need to do. That is what is most important this weekend if we want to do well against Louisville and Virginia.”
The weekend presents a pair of challenging opponents for the Hurricanes. Miami has never beaten Louisville, going 0-2 against the Cardinals in program history. Virginia is also a formidable opponent, entering the weekend with an 8-3 record in ACC play that is identical to Miami’s. The Cavaliers (15-9) are currently fifth in the ACC standings, just one spot behind the Hurricanes.
But Miami has been improving steadily over the past month, winning six of its last seven ACC matches. The Hurricanes are also especially successful playing on their home floor. Miami is 9-1 at home this season and has won 54 of its 62 matches at the Knight Sports Complex since 2010.
“I think what has helped us most is not focusing on what we have done and how many wins we have gotten,” Sims said. “Instead we are focusing on getting better for each game we have and improving in the areas we need to work on. We have really been getting better as a team and our approach has us steadily improving with each game we play.”
Sims has been a steady contributor for the Hurricanes, leading Miami with a .393 attack percentage that ranks fourth in the ACC and 23rd in the country. The senior middle blocker is also a force defensively, posting a team-high 94 blocks. Sims is 61 blocks away from tying the Miami all-time total blocks record.
While Sims has been a leader on and off the court, fellow captain Savanah Leaf has proven herself as one of the top players in the ACC and the NCAA this season. The senior outside hitter leads the ACC and ranks 10th in the country with 4.71 kills/set. Leaf, who recently became the eighth player in history to record 1,000 kills as a Hurricane, was named a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award in women’s volleyball.
Haley Templeton is another Hurricane who has received praise for her stellar play. The setter earned her third ACC Freshman of the Week award on Monday after an impressive weekend against No. 9 UNC and NC State. Templeton, who ranks second in the ACC with 10.88 assists/set, has won three of Miami’s five ACC weekly awards in 2014. Leaf owns the other two, earning ACC Player of the Week honors in back-to-back weeks in October.
Sophomore Kelsie Groot, junior Taylor Scott and freshmen Sakile Simmons and Sylvia Hernandez round out Miami’s projected starters. Groot is an all-around contributor from the right side, ranking in Miami’s top four in kills, digs and blocks. Her 22 service aces rank second on the team to Leaf’s 23.
Scott is third on the team with 160 kills, while Simmons’ 84 blocks rank second among Miami players. Hernandez has been a contributor off the bench for most of the season before recently moving into the starting lineup as the defensive specialist.
Miami has a wealth of options on its bench that allow head coach Jose “Keno” Gandara to make adjustments as necessary. Freshmen Brooke McDermott and Michele Marenus have been contributors off the bench, while senior Blair Fuentez and juniors Kalysta White, Misty Ma’a and Caitilin Donahoe are experienced reserves.
Following this weekend’s two-match home stand, Miami will travel to Pennsylvania for a match against Pitt. First serve against the Panthers is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Nov. 14.
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.
