Miami Drops Four-Set Heartbreaker

 TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The University of Miami volleyball team fell 3-1 to Florida State Sunday afternoon.

Miami (16-9, 9-6 ACC) tallied 64 kills, 62 digs, 61 assists and eight blocks. Freshman Grace Lopez earned a career-high 27 kills and 15 digs for ninth all-time in most kills in a match and third all-time in most kills in a four-set match.

Set one started close after back-to-back kills from redshirt senior Angela Grieve and freshman Grace Lopez. The Seminoles started to pull away, but Miami went on 3-0 scoring run to tie it at 16-all. Graduate student Abby Casiano then earned a kill and back-to-back blocks to lead the Canes, 21-18. Lopez secured set one, 25-23 for Miami.

The Seminoles started strong in the second set, leading 12-5. The Canes battled back to cut the deficit to 12-11. Florida State maintained the lead but Miami kept fighting after Leao picked up another kill to make it 20-17. The teams continued to trade points, but Heredia Colon marked another kill to close in at 22-20. The Seminoles ultimately evened the score and took set two, 25-21.

FSU once again took an early 10-5 lead in the third set. Lopez claimed consecutive kills and Grieve and Leao came up with a big block to put Miami within two. Leao and Savannah Vach then tied it at 11-all with a block. The set was neck-and-neck with FSU leading 22-21, ultimately leading to the Seminoles taking set three, 25-23.

The fourth set also opened close. Lopez got things rolling with two kills to be within one of FSU, 11-10. Vach came up huge with a block and back-to-back kills from Lopez put the Canes up 18-17. FSU kept pushing and earned the final set, 25-21.

The Hurricanes will return home to face No. 8 Georgia Tech on Friday, Nov. 17.