@CanesVB Ready for NC State and UNC
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami volleyball team returns to the state of North Carolina for the second straight weekend, facing North Carolina State and North Carolina in a pair of conference road matches.
The Canes will face NC State at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and North Carolina at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Miami heads into this weekend’s matches riding a four-match winning streak and will look to continue their success against the Wolf Pack and Tar Heels.
Several players have stepped up at different times during Miami’s current win streak, making the team’s success a truly collective effort.
Sophomore Olga Strantzali is coming off a strong weekend in which she recorded double-doubles in wins at Wake Forest and Duke. The outside hitter leads Miami with 218 kills and 29 service aces. Her 0.45 aces per set rank third in the ACC and 32nd nationally.
The Canes have also gotten strong play from senior middle blocker Alexis Mourning, who ranks fourth in the ACC with a .390 attack percentage. The senior captain also leads the Canes with 69 blocks on the season.
Outside hitters Taylor Scott and Kelsie Groot have also been pivotal parts to Miami’s success as the duo rank second and third, respectively, in kills on the 2015 Canes. Scott led Miami with 15 kills in the victory at Wake Forest, while Groot tallied eight kills to help Miami win at Duke for the first time since 2012.
Setter Haley Templeton has also played a key role for the Canes. The sophomore ranks third in the ACC with 10.38 assists per set and set a career high with 56 assists in Miami’s win at Duke on Oct. 11.
Miami has also gotten strong production from freshmen Lucia Pampana, Kolby Bird and Anna Haak. Pampana ranks second on the team with 45 blocks, while Bird tallied seven kills in Miami’s win over Duke. Haak also contributed in victories over Wake Forest and Duke adding to the many options head coach Jose “Keno” Gandara has at his disposal.
Senior Kalysta White rounds out Miami’s projected starters. The libero tied her career-high with 27 digs in Miami’s win at Duke last Sunday.
The Canes have also gotten contributions from senior setter Caitilin Donahoe, sophomores Sakile Simmons, Brooke McDermott, Michele Marenus and Sylvia Hernandez and freshman Codi Lee throughout the 2015 season.
Following this weekend’s action, Miami returns to Coral Gables for a home match against Boston College at 7 p.m. on Oct. 23. That same weekend, the Hurricanes will host Syracuse on Oct. 25 at 1 p.m. All Miami home matches are played at the James L. Knight Sports Complex on the University of Miami campus and admission is free.
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.
