Miami VB Falls to Kansas in NCAA Second Round

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The No. 5 seeded University of Miami volleyball team (27-6, 16-4 ACC) fell, 3-1, to the No. 4 seeded Kansas Jayhawks (24-10, 13-5 BIG 12) in the second round of the NCAA tournament on Friday night in Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena.

The Hurricanes tallied 48 kills, 55 digs and 10 blocks. Senior Flormarie Heredia Colon secured 27 kills and 14 digs, while senior Naylani Feliciano surpassed 1,000 career digs with 14.

The Jayhawks earned an early 10-5 lead to start the match. Logan Wiley and Heredia Colon slammed down this to cut the deficit to 13-16, until Kansas went on a run to pad the lead and hit .345 to take the set, 25-17.

Set two was tied at nine-all with a 3-0 run following a Dalia Wilson ace. The Jayhawks started to pull away until a Wiley block and kill from Jazmin Vergara tied it back at 14. Ava Carney then notched her first kill since September to tie it at 21-all. Kansas secured the two-set advantage with a 25-22 score.

Miami responded with all the momentum in the third set. A block by Wiley and Carney pushed Miami ahead 5-2 and a Kansas error made it 13-8. Kansas cut the deficit to 17-16, but Miami answered with a Carney kill and a Feliciano ace for set point at 21-24. Carney sealed it with another kill to take the set, 25-22.

The Hurricanes jumped in front with back-to-back kills from Heredia Colon kills and a Wilson ace. Kansas responded with a block and kill to lead, 9-8. Miami tied it at 17-17 after a Wiley block, then regained a 20-19 lead on a Carney kill. Heredia Colon tied it again at 24-all, but Kansas pulled ahead and took it 27-25.