@CanesVB Sweeps Virginia Tech, 3-0
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami volleyball team closed out the weekend with a three-set sweep of Virginia Tech.
The Hurricanes (8-12, 2-6 ACC) earned the victory over the Hokies (8-11, 3-5 ACC) thanks in large part to their success at the net. Miami hit .315 for the match and held Virginia Tech to a .086 attack percentage. The Canes had 14 blocks as a team, which ranks second in program history in a three-set match behind a 15-block performance against Boston College on Nov. 23, 2014.
“I liked their composure,” Miami head coach Jose “Keno” Gandara said of the Hurricanes. “I thought they played about the same from start to finish. We gave up some easy points in Game 1 and we made some good adjustments. We have not done that well [this season], but I liked the way we played [today].”
Miami got off to a good start on Sunday, taking the first set, 25-20. The Hurricanes were led by junior Olga Strantzali’s nine kills on a .389 attack percentage. As a team, Miami hit .379 and held the Hokies to a 0.67 attack percentage in the opening set.
The Canes continued their efficient attack in the second set, hitting .348 in a 25-19 win. Miami also limited the Hokies’ attack, holding Virginia Tech to a .111 hitting percentage in the second set. The Hurricanes entered the intermission up two sets to none.
Miami completed the sweep with a 25-19 victory in the third set. Anna Haak led the way in the final set for Miami, recording five kills, while the Canes combined for six blocks.
Strantzali paced Miami with 16 kills and hit .286 for the match, adding nine digs, five blocks and a team-high two service aces.
“Olga’s been great all year,” Gandara said. “We need to get some help from other kids. It was definitely nice to get Kolby [Bird], Lucia [Pampana] and Anna [Haak] going a little bit.”
Haak finished with 10 kills, eight digs, two blocks and two assists, while Kolby Bird tallied four kills, a .375 attack percentage, four blocks and a dig.
Pampana had five kills and hit .556, adding a team-best eight blocks that rank second in program history in a three-set match. Fellow middle blocker Sakile Simmons recorded three kills and two blocks.
Hannah Sorensen dished out 36 assists, adding two blocks and two digs, while Sylvia Hernandez had nine digs and two services aces. Freshman Sara Duque had three digs.
Following this weekend’s action, the Canes will wrap up a three-match homestand with a Wednesday night match against Florida State at 7 p.m., on Oct. 19. Miami will then travel to face Virginia at 7 p.m. on Oct. 22.
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.
