Lukianova and Vach Earn All-ACC Awards
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Elizaveta Lukianova and Savannah Vach earned All-ACC honors, as announced Monday afternoon by the conference office.
Lukianova was named to the All-ACC First Team, while Vach earned All-ACC Second Team honors.
“I am happy for Liza and Sav,” head coach Jose “Keno” Gandara said. “I know how hard they have worked for this. I can only wonder where we would be without these two. They certainly carried a big load for us this year and were a big part of what we accomplished this season.”
Monday’s announcement marks the fourth straight season the University of Miami volleyball team earned two All-ACC honors.
Lukianova earned her third straight conference award and first ever First Team All-ACC honor after posting 303 kills in just 17 matches. The outside hitter recorded double-digit kills in all but two matches during her redshirt senior season and led the ACC in both kills per set (4.59) and points per set (5.13).
“Liza was dominant at the net from the start of the season and continued to develop her game as the season went on,” Gandara said. “She’s mostly known for her attacking and blocking, but the rest of her game has evolved this year.”
The Russia native led the Canes in kills and blocks at 42. Her historic match against Clemson ranks in Miami’s all-time top 10 list with 30 kills in a single match and is the second-most kills in a match in the ACC this season.
Lukianova adds Monday’s honor to her two previous Second Team All-ACC awards and two All-ACC Preseason Team accolades.
Sophomore Vach, who has been a constant, dominant leader in her two years, earned her second conference honor of her young career. The setter was named to the Second Team All-ACC after being selected to the All-Freshman Team in 2020.
“Savannah is a special kid and a special player,” Gandara said. “She continues to amaze us with her development as a leader of this program, on and off the court. She is an elite volleyball player who values her work behind the scenes.”
Vach led the Canes with 675 assists and posted the third-best average in the ACC with 10.07 per set. The Oviedo, Fla. native is sixth in Miami history with 1,703 career assists after just two seasons.
Vach played in all 67 sets for Miami while tallying 34 kills, 12 service aces and 147 digs. Her 59 assists against Georgia Tech is the most in single match in the conference this season and is tied for ninth in Miami history, alongside Haley Templeton and Jamie Grass.
“She does so much for this team not only as a setter, but as an example of what a UM volleyball player should be and how they should act,” Gandara said. “Her performance as a hitter and blocker in our last four matches was incredible, yet not surprising because we have seen this type of performance day in and day out at practice.”