@CanesVB Heads to Delaware Tournament
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami volleyball team will close out its non-conference schedule with three matches at the University of Delaware Invitational.
The Hurricanes (5-4) open the weekend against the host Delaware Blue Hens (4-5) at 7 p.m. ET on Friday. The Canes will then face Missouri (6-3) at 10 a.m. ET on Saturday and close out the tournament with a 4:30 p.m. ET match against Duquesne (9-2).
Miami heads into Delaware off a 2-1 weekend at the Wildcat Classic at Kansas State University. All-tournament selections Olga Strantzali and Kolby Bird will be expected to play key roles again this weekend in Delaware.
Strantzali ranks second in the ACC with 4.24 kills per set. The junior, who leads Miami with 140 kills on the year, has recorded 15-plus kills in seven of Miami’s nine matches this season. Strantzali is also a force with her powerful serve, leading the Canes with 11 service aces.
Bird has been an impact player at a new position, moving to the right side just before the American Campus Classic two weeks ago. In her six starts, the sophomore is hitting .328 with 59 kills over 24 sets. Bird also has 19 blocks and nine service aces in that stretch.
Anna Haak is another dangerous attacker for Miami, ranking second on the team with 89 kills. The sophomore recorded her first double-double of the season against Loyola Chicago, tallying 11 kills and 11 digs in the victory.
“We are looking forward to having another opportunity to work on things before ACC games start,” Haak said. “ This is our last tournament before we start playing in the conference so we are focused on getting ready for that.”
Miami features a trio of talented middle blockers that have been active at the net this season. Lucia Pampana has been Miami’s top blocker, recording 30 blocks on the year. The sophomore also has been an efficient attacker, as her .322 hitting percentage ranks second on the team.
“We are focused on the fundamentals,” Pampana said. “We are always looking to improve, especially with this being our last tournament before the ACC season. We are going to play as a team and always give all our effort.”
Junior Sakile Simmons and freshman Madison Dill have also made an impact in the middle. Simmons is second on the team with 22 blocks and her .267 hitting percentage is third-best among all Canes. Dill has been a solid reserve, recording six kills and six blocks last weekend at the Wildcat Classic.
Alyssa Basdavanos has been pacing Miami’s offense at setter. The junior has tallied 224 assists on the year, ranking ninth in the ACC with 9.33 assists per set. Basdavanos has recorded at least 20 assists in five of six matches played this season, including a career-high 53 in her debut against UTSA.
Sylvia Hernandez leads the Canes in digs with 106. The junior has been Miami’s libero for all but one match this season and is coming off a career-high 21-dig performance in the Hurricanes’ victory over Mississippi State.
Miami head coach Jose “Keno” Gandara also has turned to several talented options in reserve, including junior Brooke McDermott, sophomore Codi Lee and freshmen Sara Duque and Carly Davey.
Following this weekend’s matches in Delaware, the Hurricanes will open conference play with matches against ACC foes Florida State and Notre Dame. Miami will travel to Florida State for its ACC opener at 7 p.m. on Sept. 23, while the Canes will host Notre Dame at 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 25 in their ACC home opener.
All Hurricanes volleyball home matches are played at the James L. Knight Sports Complex on the University of Miami campus. Admission is free. For a complete look at the Hurricanes’ 2016 schedule, click here.
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.
