Three @CanesVB Players Graduate in 2015
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Three member of the Hurricanes volleyball program will participate in the University of Miami Commencement ceremonies this weekend.
Seniors Blair Fuentez and Emani Sims, as well as redshirt junior Alexis Mourning, will walk across the stage and accept their diplomas as part of the Spring Commencement exercises from May 7-9 at the BankUnited Center. Senior Savanah Leaf also earned her undergraduate degree following the 2014 season and participated in the Fall Commencement in December.
Sims earned her second degree from the University of Miami, graduating Thursday with a master’s in public relations to go with her bachelor’s degree in advertising. The Glenview, Ill., native is one of the greatest Hurricanes ever to set foot on the court, earning AVCA All-America third team honors in 2012 and AVCA All-America honorable mention in 2014. An exemplary student-athlete, Sims was a three-time All-ACC First Team selection and a three-time All-ACC Academic selection. As a senior, Sims led Miami with a .372 attack percentage that ranked fourth in the ACC and was the team leader in blocks with 136 (17 solo). The talented middle blocker ranked fourth on the team with 226 kills and her 16 services aces were third-most on 2014 squad. Sims finished career as the school’s all-time leader in attack percentage (.339) and block assists (491), while ranking second in UM history in total blocks (554).
Fuentez earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing. The Ridgewood, N.J., native was a contributor in her four years at Miami, making a career-high 22 starts as a junior in 2013. Fuentez, who was a setter and hitter for the Hurricanes, leaves Miami ranked sixth in program history with 949 assists. She distributed a career-high 53 assists in a victory over Boston College on Sept. 28, 2013 and recorded a career-high three service aces in Miami’s win over Wake Forest on Nov. 24, 2013. Fuentez was a crowd favorite when she stepped up to serve, eliciting a loud “BOOM” from the stands when she made impact with the ball. Known for her powerful serve, Fuentez notched 48 service aces in her four years playing for the Canes to rank 16th in program history.
Mourning spent the 2014 campaign focused on completing her bachelor’s degree in nursing/health science and rehabbing an injury. An outstanding middle blocker, Mourning was a Preseason All-ACC and an All-ACC Second Team selection in 2013. She was also an All-ACC selection in 2012 and was named AVCA All-Region and AVCA All-America honorable mention in 2012. Mourning currently ranks fourth in UM history with a .314 attack percentage, eighth in school history with 271 total blocks and 15th in program history with 579 kills. She will have the opportunity to climb the Miami volleyball record books in 2015 as she will play her senior season while working toward a master’s degree.
Leaf, who graduated in December with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, was named the 2014 ACC Player of the Year and became the third AVCA All-American in program history, earning second team honors. She was also selected as the 2014 ACC Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The San Anselmo, Calif., native finished the season with 4.65 kills/set, ranking 12th in the country and atop the ACC. A talented outside hitter, she led the team in kills (502), kills/set (4.65) and points (5.33), while ranking second in attack percentage (.312), service aces (27) and digs (266), and third in blocks (83). She also led the Canes with 13 double-doubles during the 2014 season.
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