@CanesVB Wins Home Finale Over Clemson, 3-1
CORAL GABLES. Fla. – The University of Miami volleyball team earned a four-set win over Clemson on Friday afternoon to close out its 2016 schedule with a victory.
The Hurricanes (15-17, 9-11 ACC) got off to a slow start and the Tigers (6-26,1-19 ACC) took advantage, winning the first set, 25-18, after making just three attack errors, getting four service aces and holding the Hurricanes to a .059 hitting percentage.
Miami responded in the second set, jumping to a 13-5 lead and forcing a Clemson timeout. The Canes kept pushing and extended their lead to 10, 21-11, and closed out the second set win, 25-14, to head into the break tied at one set apiece.
The Canes took the third set, 25-21, after hitting .306 and picking up a trip of aces against the Tigers. Miami closed out the fourth set on a 12-4 run to take the set, 25-15, and the match.
“It’s unusual to end the year with a win, but it sure was nice to see how they recovered from Game 1 and playing the way we expect them to play,” Miami head coach Jose “Keno” Gandara said. “To finish the season playing like that was, for sure, gratifying.”
Olga Strantzali led the way for Miami once again, tallying 23 kills, 14 digs, and two service aces. The double-double was Strantzali’s team-best 14th of the season. The junior finished the season with 586 kills, second most in a single-season at Miami.
Anna Haak notched her 10th double-double of the season, finishing with 16 kills, 10 digs and a service aces. Kolby Bird added eight kills, a career-high 15 digs, two assists, a block and a service ace.
“They showed maturity and an understanding of their role,” Gandara said. “They’re learning to do it in certain situations, particularly when things don’t start off the way you wanted and being able to recover and understand that every play and game is different. You always have the opportunity to correct and have a good day.”
Lucia Pampana and Madison Dill were forces in the middle for Miami. Pampana had eight kills and two digs, while Dill had four kills and a team-high four blocks.
Hannah Sorensen distributed 55 assists and added three blocks, two kills, two digs and a team-leading three service aces.
Sylvia Hernandez had 13 digs as Miami’s libero, while Sara Duque had three digs and an assist. Carly Davey had a dig, an assist and tied her career-high with two service aces.
“It’s exciting to have this group come back and they’re a great group of girls,” Gandara said. “They learned a lot this year and we will get some time in the spring to continue to get better. We also add some new girls, too, so I am excited about the future.”
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