Volleyball Prepares for Second Half of Season

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – With a season unlike any other, it’s only fitting that it continues with something we have never experienced before.

The University of Miami volleyball team ended its fall 2020 season with a 5-3 record and was ranked No. 11 by the AVCA, its highest ranking in program history.

With only eight scheduled matches, Miami finished its shortest season to date, but will return to the court sooner than normal.

“It means a lot to us because I know a lot of people weren’t as lucky to get to play and their seasons were completely canceled,” sophomore setter Savannah Vach said. “The fact that the ACC was able to figure it out for us really shows that they care and how much we care about playing. I’m just really thankful we get to play.”

With the second half of the season slated to start in March, Vach and her teammates have a lot to prove to themselves and the NCAA.

In the most recent AVCA rankings, Miami was left off the top 25 list after conferences announced the resumption of play in the spring. It’s an added bonus and challenge for Vach that she says the Canes are ready to prove wrong.

“We’ve seen all the posts and it’s just a big motivator for us to prove the voters wrong,” Vach said. “We’re ready to get back into the gym.”

It’s been three months since the Canes swept Florida State in its last match of the unconventional year. The challenges of finding open gyms due to COVID-19 have made training difficult, but with the strength training programs and a good attitude, Vach is confident her team will come back prepared and ready for the second half of the season.

“It will be like preseason all over again and with a month of practice before matches, we’ll be good,” Vach said. “We’re always excited about playing and we’ll get in the right mindset as soon as we get in the gym.”