Canes Face Georgia Tech and Clemson in Weekday Matchups
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami volleyball team will travel to Georgia Tech and Clemson this week for the final two matches of the regular season.
The Hurricanes (19-5, 13-5 ACC) began a four-match road trip last weekend and put in contrasting performances against Virginia and Virginia Tech, but came away with two victories – 3-2 and 3-0, respectively – to extend their win streak to four matches. As a result, Miami is sitting comfortably in fourth place in the standings, two wins above fifth-placed Notre Dame, against which it holds the head-to-head sets won tiebreak.
Overall, Miami has won 10 out of its last 12 matches, featuring five sweeps and four road victories. The only defeats have come to the Fighting Irish and conference leader Pittsburgh.
Wednesday’s contest against the Yellow Jackets will be Miami’s sixth match this season that strays away from the usual Friday-Sunday axis. The Hurricanes are 5-1 in those matches, most recently orchestrating a comeback against Boston College on Nov. 9 to win in five sets in Coral Gables.
The Yellow Jackets (13-16, 8-10 ACC) have won only one of their last five matches, a win that came against Clemson on Senior Night last Wednesday. However, the O’Keefe Gym has been an unpleasant site for teams to travel to, with Georgia Tech posting a 10-5 home record so far. Miami has the 14-9 edge in the all-time series, but the Yellow Jackets won a five setter in Coral Gables in the final week of the 2016 season to cease a run of eight straight Hurricane wins in the series.
For the second season in a row, Miami closes out the regular season against Clemson. Last year, the Hurricanes overcame the Tigers in four sets in the James L. Knight Sports Complex to improve to 13-11 in all-time series. The Canes will walk into the Jervey Gym Friday as the winners of seven straight matches against Clemson and of 10 out of the last 11 meetings.
The Tigers (7-23, 2-16 ACC) are on a less positive of a run themselves, losing seven straight matches. During the negative series, Clemson has won only two sets, against Virginia Tech on Nov. 5 and against NC State on Nov. 9. Sunday’s match against Pitt began a three-match homestand that will close out Clemson’s campaign. Friday’s contest against the Hurricanes will be the Tigers’ Senior Day.
Next up, Miami will be waiting to find out its postseason fate, which will be determined by the NCAA Championship selection show on Sunday, Nov. 26, at 9 p.m.
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