@CanesVB Ready for ACC Home Opener
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami volleyball team will play its first ACC home matches of the 2015 season this weekend, hosting Georgia Tech and Clemson.
After opening ACC play last weekend on the road, the Canes return to Coral Gables for their ACC home opener on Friday, hosting Georgia Tech at 6 p.m. The match will serve as Miami’s annual “Dig Pink” match to raise awareness for breast cancer research. Pink t-shirts and pom poms will be given away while supplies last, as well as 200 food truck vouchers will be given away by Category 5.
Miami will round out its first home weekend of ACC play at 1 p.m. on Sunday against Clemson. Sunday’s match is Canes Coalition Day at the James L. Knight Sports Complex, encouraging Miami student-athletes to support their fellow Canes. There will also be free ice cream available prior to the match and a post-match youth clinic and Q&A session with the Canes.
The Hurricanes bring a balanced and talented roster into this weekend’s action, led by senior Alexis Mourning. The veteran middle blocker has been efficient in her attack all season for Miami, hitting .415 to rank third in the conference. Mourning also makes a big impact defensively at the net, leading the Hurricanes with 50 blocks on the year.
Mourning is just one of several dangerous attackers for the Canes. Fellow senior Taylor Scott has elevated her game in recent weeks, rising to third on the team with 120 kills. Scott, who also ranks second with 12 aces, recently registered 20 kills while hitting .300 at Florida State in the Hurricanes’ ACC opener.
Sophomore Olga Strantzali is also a threat to make an impact at any moment. The outside hitter leads Miami with 161 kills and 22 service aces. Her powerful swing has Strantzali averaging 0.45 aces per set to rank second in the ACC and 37th nationally.
Junior Kelsie Groot has continued her stellar all-around play for Miami, ranking second on the team with 132 kills and fourth with 27 blocks and 94 digs. The experienced right side is a key component to Miami’s success in all facets of a match.
Haley Templeton continues to pace Miami’s offense, dishing out 10.12 assists/set to rank third in the ACC. The sophomore is also dangerous with her serve, tallying 11 aces this season.
Senior Kalysta White and freshman Lucia Pampana round out Miami’s projected starters and each player brings a different skill to the team. White is Miami’s libero and she leads the team with 163 digs, while ranking fourth with nine service aces. Pampana plays middle blocker for the Hurricanes and she has risen to second on the team with 32 blocks.
Middle blocker Sakile Simmons is one of several gifted options Miami has available in reserve. The sophomore, who leads the team with a .486 attack percentage, earned valuable experience as a freshman a year ago when she played in every match for a Hurricanes team that reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Senior setter Caitilin Donahoe and sophomores Brooke McDermott, Michele Marenus and Sylvia Hernandez join talented freshmen Anna Haak, Kolby Bird and Codi Lee as players who have contributed for the Hurricanes so far in 2015.
All Miami home matches are played at the James L. Knight Sports Complex on the University of Miami campus and admission is free. Both matches will also be broadcast on ESPN3.
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.
