Templeton Garners Second ACC Player of the Week Honor
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miami redshirt setter Haley Templeton was named ACC Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday.
Templeton earned her second player of the week honor for 2017 after running the Hurricanes’ offense to a 2-0 weekend, following a 3-2 win at Duke Friday and a sweep of Wake Forest on the road Sunday.
“It means so much to get Player of the Week again and to help my team get two victories this weekend,” Templeton said. “It was a great weekend for all of us. Everybody came out really focused and ready to play and it felt good to get those two wins.”
Templeton reached new heights in the dramatic five-setter against the Blue Devils, recording career-best 61 assists. She surpassed her previous best – from Sept. 1 this year against FAU – by five assists in the process of helping Miami improve to 4-0 in five-set matches this season. Other than providing for her hitters, Templeton picked up kills herself when the opportunities were provided, combining for nine on the weekend. The Alpharetta, Ga., native was excellent in attack and hit .500 over the course of the two victories, which helped Miami return to winning ways.
The redshirt junior also contributed a service ace in each match and combined for four blocks on the weekend, completing the North Carolina road trip with a total of setter-impressive 13 points – 7.5 against the Blue Devils and 5.5 against the Demon Deacons.
“I am really happy for Haley,” Miami head coach Jose “Keno” Gandara said. “She is one of our leaders and we have high standards for her. She understands the demands are high, worked really hard all week and it paid off. It’s nice to see her compete and perform at that level and to do the things that make our team better but don’t show in the stat sheet.”
Templeton and the Hurricanes return home this weekend to host Louisville (Oct. 20) and Notre Dame (Oct. 22). First serves against the Cardinals and the Fighting Irish are at 7 p.m., and 2 p.m., respectively.
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