@CanesVB Focused on Development in Spring
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami volleyball team completed spring practice Monday, wrapping up a productive session that focused on individual and team development.
Miami brings back nine players from a 2015 squad that went 21-10, including 14-6 in the ACC. The Hurricanes finished 2015 with at least 20 wins for the second-consecutive season under head coach Jose “Keno” Gandara.
In addition, Miami also appeared in the 2015 NCAA Tournament, facing Iowa State in the opening round. The Canes have now reached the tournament in all three of Gandara’s seasons at the helm of the program and in each of the previous seven seasons.
Miami spent most of March and the beginning of April training, focusing on skill development and advancements in both their offensive and defensive systems. The Hurricanes also played three spring matches: hosting Miami-Dade on March 29, playing at FAU on April 9 and welcoming FAU to Coral Gables on April 16.
“The spring season is where each player can focus on individual things, so you are able to make a much more dramatic improvement than you ever could in the fall,’ setter Haley Templeton said. “The spring workouts also bring us closer as a team because we are all working to get better and stronger for the fall.”
All-ACC selections Olga Strantzali and Haley Templeton headline a rising junior class that is brimming with talent. Strantzali led the ACC with 51 service aces, recording an outstanding 0.44 service aces per set that ranked 16th in the NCAA in 2015. She also led the Canes with 363 kills, averaging 3.16 kills per set on the season.
Templeton turned in another strong campaign in her second year as a Hurricane, recording 1,261 assists on the season. The gifted setter averaged 10.69 assists per set to rank fourth in the ACC. A dangerous server, Templeton ranked second on the Hurricanes with 31 service aces on the season. Both Strantzali and Templeton were named AVCA All- Region Honorable Mention, while Templeton was invited to participate in the 2016 U.S. National Team tryouts.
“As an upperclassman, I have really experienced how much spring can help individual improvement and that helps the team overall,” Templeton said. “ I’m personally focusing on running a faster offense so we can be a more dynamic team.”
Defensive specialist Sylvia Hernandez, middle blocker Sakile Simmons and outside hitter Brooke McDermott round out the rising junior class and each player has been a contributor for the Canes in their time at Miami. Hernandez provided support in the back row, while Simmons was a force blocking at the net and McDermott served as a reserve.
In addition to Miami’s five rising juniors, the Hurricanes have four rising sophomores looking to build off their first year of collegiate volleyball.
Outside hitters Kolby Bird and Anna Haak, middle blocker Lucia Pampana and defensive specialist Codi Lee all saw playing time as freshmen for the Canes and they will seek to continue their development in preparation for their second season with the program.
“We work on more technical things so we are all getting better at individual skills,” Bird said. “We take more time to break things down and understand the system. Each practice is slower and more about development because we are not getting ready for games. I feel like I am getting much better, especially with my passing. The coaches can’t work with us until August, so as a freshman I came in and basically had to learn the system as fast as I could before the season. This has been great for me to learn the system and break down the components of it.”
Bird flashed her potential in several matches a year ago, including her 13-kill performance in a win at NC State. Haak also proved to be a prolific attacker, recording 16 kills in a win at Georgia Tech and a team-high 11 against Iowa State in the NCAA Tournament.
Pampana was one of two Hurricanes to have an eight-block match in 2015, doing so against Marquette in September. She also recorded a career-high seven kills in Miami’s victory over No. 20 Purdue on Sept. 12, while Lee provided solid back row play and was a situational server for Miami as a freshman.
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.
