Volleyball Returns with ACC Opening Weekend
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Twenty days after its last match, the University of Miami volleyball team returns to the court this weekend to host Virginia Tech and Virginia at the James L. Knight Sports Complex.
Miami (6-0) is one of the seven remaining unbeaten teams in the nation entering this weekend’s matches, which will serve as both the home opener and the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for the Canes.
The Hurricanes were scheduled to co-host the UM/FIU Invitational last weekend and face Auburn, fellow undefeated team James Madison and South Alabama in front of their home crowd, but the event was canceled due to Miami’s campus being closed following Hurricane Irma.
Before that, the team did not to travel to the 2017 Sonesta Hotel Philadelphia Cherry & White Challenge while Hurricane Irma was headed toward South Florida.
“We all tried to do what we could, whether in our club gyms or high school gyms, but there’s just nothing that compares to playing with your team,” sophomore setter Hannah Sorensen said. “Even if you are playing or getting reps on your own, it’s really hard to be away from the team for 10 days worth of practice.”
Last season Miami went 2-0 against this weekend’s opponents, sweeping Virginia Tech in Coral Gables and Virginia in Charlottesville, Va.
Virginia Tech comes into the weekend with a 6-5 overall record. The Hokies fell to Radford and East Tennessee State University at the Hokie Invitational last weekend. The team has not lost three straight matches this season.
UVA has also lost back-to-back contests, falling to 4-7 overall after two 3-0 losses in a doubleheader at UCF. The Cavaliers are 1-4 away from home this season, their only victory coming in a true road match at Appalachian State on Sept. 2.
“They are all volleyball matches, but a conference match is so much more exciting,” Sorensen said. “We are so excited to see what we can do in the ACC and we are excited to finally play in our own gym because we love this gym and we love our fans. I feel like it is going to give us an advantage.”
The Canes will return to the road for ACC contests at Notre Dame next Friday (7 p.m.) and at Louisville Sunday (1 p.m.).
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.
