Leaf Leads @CanesVB in Sweep Over Pitt
PITTSBURGH – The University of Miami volleyball team had just one match this weekend and the Hurricanes made sure to make the most of it.
Miami (18-7, 11-3 ACC) entered Friday night’s match against Pitt (21-5, 9-4 ACC) in fourth place in the conference, just one spot ahead of the host Panthers. Three sets later, the Hurricanes left Pittsburgh with an impressive win.
The Canes took the opening set, 25-19, thanks for a balanced attack that hit .367 in the first set. Savanah Leaf led all Hurricanes with five kills, while Kelsie Groot and Taylor Scott each added three kills to help Miami take a 1-0 lead in the match.
The Hurricanes took a 2-0 lead in the intermission after an impressive 25-14 victory in the second set. Through two sets, Miami has tallied a .302 attack percentage and held Pitt to a .100 attack percentage. The Canes had six different players record a kill and combined for 13 total blocks against the Panthers.
Miami completed the sweep over Pitt with a 25-17 win in the third set. The Hurricanes finished the night hitting .359, while holding Pitt to an 0.95 attack percentage. The Canes tallied five aces in the match with Michele Marenus and Emani Sims each collecting two and Groot adding one service ace.
Leaf finished the night with a team-high 12 kills, while hitting .296 for the match. The senior outside hitter had four blocks and nine digs, one shy of recording her team-leading 11th double-double of the year.
Scott was an effective attacker, hitting .318 while collecting nine kills. Groot and Sims each added five kills apiece to tie for third in kills against Pitt on Friday night.
Middle blocker Sakile Simmons led Miami hitters with an .800 attack percentage and was one of three Canes to record a team-best four blocks, joined by Lead and Sims.
Freshman Haley Templeton paced Miami’s efficient and effective attack Friday night, dishing out 31 assists while adding six digs and a solo block. Fellow freshman Sylvia Hernandez led all Hurricanes with 11 digs.
Miami returns home next weekend to host Syracuse and Boston College. The Canes will honor senior Savanah Leaf, Emani Sims and Blair Fuentez prior to their 7 p.m. match against Syracuse on Nov. 21, while Miami will host Boston College in the final home match of the 2014 season on Nov. 23 at 1 p.m.
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.
