Templeton, Strantzali Named Preseason All-ACC
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami volleyball team had two members selected to the 2015 Preseason All-ACC Team.
Sophomores Haley Templeton and Olga Strantzali were the two Hurricanes named to the 18-member Preseason All-ACC Team that was voted on by the ACC coaches.
“It’s great to have two players recognized by the conference,” Gandara said. “Olga and Haley are two players we are expecting to have an impact this season. We have good balance of returners and newcomers heading into this season with four seniors and only one junior.”
Templeton had a fantastic freshman campaign that has resulted in a slew of honors including ACC Freshman of the Year, and All-ACC Freshman Team selection and a All-ACC Second Team selection. She was named ACC Freshman of the Week five times during the 2014 season. The Alpharetta, Ga., native eclipsed the 1,000-assist mark during Miami’s 3-1 victory over Georgia Tech a week ago, recording the 10th 1,000-assist season since the program returned in 2001.
“It has been great to see Haley mature and develop as last season went on,” Gandara said. “She came in with a good skill level, but now she has a much better command of the offense and how to run an team. She is a great teammate and is becoming a better leader. I look forward to watching her continue to develop.”
The gifted setter finished the season ranked second in the ACC with 10.99 assists/set. She finished the year with 1,143 assists and led the Hurricanes with 28 service aces. She was also a threat to attack, notching 68 kills on the season. The freshman recorded at least 20 assists in 30 of Miami’s 31 matches this season, including a career-high 53 assists four times (9/13 vs. Ball State, 9/20 vs. Missouri, 10/5 vs. Florida State and 10/10 at Syracuse).
Strantzali is a 6-foot-1 outside hitter from Pylaia, Thessaloniki, Greece, who will transfer to Miami after spending the 2014 season at UCLA. In her lone season with the Bruins, Strantlazi played in 29 matches and made 14 starts. Her 196 kills ranked fourth on the team, while her 2.42 kills/set were third-best. She also ranked second on the team with 18 aces and tallied 23 blocks over the course of 81 sets played.
“Olga is a complete player with a powerful arm and a great competitor,” Gandara said. “Olga not only spent last season at UCLA in the PAC 12, but also has extensive international experience playing with the Greek National team program.”
Prior to UCLA, Strantzali attended Hellenic College of Thessaloniki in Thermi, Thessaloniki, Greece, where she has helped the school to three National School Championships, a third-place finish in the 2014 World School Championship and a fourth-place showing in the 2012 World School Championship. She had 263 kills, 57 aces and 330 points as a senior. She is a member of the Greek National Volleyball Team.
In addition to having two players selected Preseason All-ACC, the Hurricanes were predicted to be one of the top teams in the conference in 2015. The ACC head coaches predicted the Canes to finish fourth in the conference in 2015.
The Hurricanes reached the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament, falling to No. 8 Florida in a hard-fought four-set battle. Miami reached the second round for the third time in program history. The Canes, who are 3-8 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, earned their first NCAA Tournament victory since 2011 when they beat UCF in five sets on Dec. 5. The win was also the first NCAA Tournament victory in Gandara’s head coaching career.
Miami brings back five of seven starters from the 2014 team. Seniors Taylor Scott and Kalysta White are joined by junior Kelsie Groot and sophomores Templeton and Sakile Simmons as key returners heading into 2015.
Senior Caitilin Donahoe and sophomores Sylvia Hernandez, Michele Marenus and Brooke McDermott also made contributions for the Hurricanes in 2014, while senior Alexis Mourning is back on the court after redshirting in the 2014 season.
Strantzali is one of six newcomers joining the Hurricanes in 2015 along with freshmen Lucia Pampana, Anna Haak, Kolby Bird, Codi Lee and Samantha Purnell.
“It’s exciting to bring back 10 players who have all contributed for us in the past,” Gandara said. “We also add six new players that will help us as we continue to work towards our goals this season.”
Miami opens the 2015 season on August 28 against Illinois State. The match, which begins at 7 p.m., is the first of three the Hurricanes will play in the season-opening Hurricane Invitational at the James L. Knight Sports Complex on the University of Miami campus.
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