DENTON, Texas – The University of Miami volleyball team (1-0) opened the 2024 season with a four-set victory, defeating the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (0-1), 3-1, Friday evening at The Super Pit.

Miami notched the first set, 28-26, coming back from a 17-13 deficit. Junior Flormarie Heredia Colon secured the set victory with six kills and two blocks.

To start the match, the teams traded points and were tied at eight-all, with help from Heredia Colon’s back-to-back blocks. Rutgers started to pull away and made it 17-12, but the Hurricanes continued to battle for the opening set, cutting the deficit down after going on a 3-0 run. Sophomore Grace Lopez smacked down consecutive kills to tie at 24-all before junior Dalia Wilson recorded a block to lead the Canes. Rutgers continued to tie the set, but Miami came out on top, 28-26.

Like the first, set two was filled with lead changes, but this time Rutgers came out victorious as they evened the match at two sets all with 25-23 score, despite sophomore Grace Lopez’s four kills and two aces.

Set three opened with a Miami 9-1 run, with help from four kills from four different Canes and an ace from senior Yaidaliz Rosado. The Scarlet Knights attempted to cut the deficit, but back-to-back aces from redshirt freshman Ariana Rodriguez gave the Hurricanes an 18-10 lead. In a dominant fashion, Miami took set three, 25-19, with 13 team kills on a .391 hitting percentage.

Miami maintained a dominant lead throughout the fourth set, notching nine kills within their first 14 points. Only allowing 10 points, the Hurricanes secured the final set, 25-10, to lock in their first win of the season.