@CanesVB Hosts 'Cuse & BC on Senior Weekend
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Seniors Savanah Leaf, Emani Sims and Blair Fuentez will play in their final matches at the James L. Knight Sports Complex this weekend.
The University of Miami volleyball team will host Syracuse and Boston College this weekend in the final two home matches of the 2014 season. The Canes will honor Leaf, Sims and 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. Admission is free to both matches.
All three seniors have reached the NCAA Tournament in every season they have played at Miami and each will be recognized for their contributions to the program.
A Preseason All-ACC selection, Leaf has earned ACC Player of the Week honors three times this season. The San Anselmo, Calif., native became the eighth player in program history to tally 1,000 kills in her Hurricane career. Her 30 kills against Florida State tied a UM record for most kills in a match and she currently ranks 11th in the country and first in the ACC with 4.62 kills/set.
“It’s bittersweet because I have made some great connections with the girls and everyone has been really good to me here,” Leaf said of heading into her final home weekend. “ I am excited for whatever is next to come.”
Sims is one of two players in program history to earn AVCA All-America honors. The Glenview, Ill., native was a third-team selection in 2012 and is a two-time All-ACC selection heading into her senior season. Sims ranks second in program history with 527 total blocks and her.340 attack percentage is the best in program history. The talented middle blocker currently ranks fourth in the ACC and 35th in the country with a .383 attack percentage.
“I am trying to focus on this being like any other game, but it’s obviously a big weekend since it will be the last time we get to play at home,” Sims said. “It’s been interesting seeing how the team has grown and transformed over the years. I’ve loved getting to know every single one of my teammates. I am looking forward to playing really hard in our last two home games with my family here to support me.”
Fuentez currently sits fifth in program history with 947 assists. Known for her powerful top-spin serve, Fuentez’s 46 career service aces rank 16th in Miami volleyball history and had an impressive streak of nine consecutive matches with an ace during the 2013 season. The Ridgewood, N.J., native dished out a career-high 53 assists against Boston College a year ago and finished the 2013 season with 864 assists.
“It’s crazy to think that four years have passed,” Fuentez said. “It’s sad to think that these will be our last two home games, but it is exciting that we will get to celebrate our careers.”
Beyond Miami’s talented trio of seniors, the Hurricanes feature a deep roster that has helped Miami climb to 27th in the latest RPI rankings released on Monday. The Canes (18-7, 11-3 ACC) are one of four ACC teams ranked in the Top 30 in RPI.
Freshman Haley Templeton has been a force all season for the Hurricanes. A four-time ACC Freshman of the Week, Templeton ranks second in the ACC and leads all freshmen in the conference with 10.91 assists/set. Her 26 service aces also lead the Canes this season.
Miami has also gotten strong contributions from sophomore Kelsie Groot and junior Taylor Scott. Groot leads the Canes with 227 digs on the season and ranks third on the team in kills (186) and service aces (23). Scott is an aggressive outside hitter, ranking second on the team in kills with 193.
Freshmen Sakile Simmons and Sylvia Hernandez round out Miami’s projected starters and both have played key roles in Miami’s success. Simmons, a middle blocker, ranks second on the team in blocks (87) and third in attack percentage (.251). Hernandez has recorded double-digit digs in her previous three matches since becoming the starting defensive specialist.
Freshmen Brooke McDermott and Michele Marenus, as well as Fuentez and juniors Kalysta White and Caitilin Donahoe, bring a combination of youth and experience to Miami’s bench.
Following this weekend’s homestand, Miami will travel to Georgia Tech and Florida State to close out the 2014 regular season. The Canes will face the Yellow Jackets at 6 p.m. on Nov. 26 and are set to face the Seminoles at 1 p.m. on Nov. 28.
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