Miami Drops Five-Set Rivalry Match

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami volleyball team came up short against Florida State with a 3-2 loss Wednesday night.

Miami (10-5, 3-2 ACC) tallied 62 kills, 57 digs, 50 assists and eight blocks in its five-set battle. Freshman Grace Lopez set a new career-high 23 kills, while sophomore Flormarie Heredia Colon earned a career-high four aces.

The match started with a sophomore Cianna Tejada slam, followed with kills from Heredia Colon and Lopez to lead 15-13. Miami then went on a 6-1 scoring run with help from redshirt senior Angela Grieve and Tejada with a block to make it 20-14. Despite the Seminoles building up speed and taking the lead 23-22, Miami clawed its way on top again to take set one, 27-25.

Set two kicked off with a 4-0 run with Vach behind the line. The rest of the set remained neck and neck, until FSU went on a 5-0 run to lead 15-10. The Seminoles didn’t slow down and took the second set, 25-20.

FSU continued the momentum and took an early 7-4 lead before a kill from grad student Janice Leao and ace from Heredia Colon helped the Canes tie it up at eight-all. The match went on point-for-point, ultimately being tied at 20. The Canes pushed past to take the third set, 25-22.

Miami switched it up and started with the lead going into the fourth set until FSU jumped on a scoring run to lead 18-10. Leao notched three kills, junior Peyman Yardimci entered the game with an ace and the team claimed back-to-back blocks to help the Canes catch up, 22-20. Tejada showed herself as a playmaker by notching a block and kill back-to-back. Despite the tremendous comeback, FSU claimed the fourth set, 25-20.

The Seminoles controlled the start of the fifth set, leading 7-2. FSU didn’t slow down and took the set, 15-6, to win the match.

The Hurricanes will remain home to face NC State on Oct. 6.