SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The University of Miami volleyball program began a stretch of five consecutive road matches Friday, earning a dominant victory over the Syracuse Orange.
The Hurricanes won both the first and third set by nine points, 25-16, and the middle set by 12 points, 25-13, as Miami extended its winning streak to eight against the Orange.
With the win, Miami wins its fifth consecutive match and improves to 14-10 on the season and 12-3 in ACC play.
Asia Harvey led Miami offensively, posting a match high 13 kills on a .526 hitting percentage. The sophomore also recorded two blocks. Sonja Danilovic followed with nine kills, including five in the first set.
Miami’s defensive unit dominated against the Orange, holding them to a .053 match hitting percentage. Ariana Rodriguez recorded 34 assists and 15 digs for another double-double, while libero Gaby Arroyo recorded 13 digs, nine assists, and a team-high four service aces. Logan Wiley led the Canes with four blocks.
Set 1: Miami 25, Syracuse 16
Miami and Syracuse played a tight first set early, as the teams traded points to sit tied at seven. The Hurricanes posted five consecutive points thanks to two Sonja Danilovic kills, a Logan Wiley and Ruth Martinez block, and an Ariana Rodriguez service ace, as Miami took a 12-7 lead.
The Orange continued to chip away at the Canes lead, pulling within four, 18-14, but a 7-2 Miami run, including a stretch of five straight points, secured the first set for the Hurricanes.
Sonja Danilovic tallied five of her nine total kills in the first set, while Wiley recorded two blocks and a kill, contributing on two of Miami’s final three points.
Set 2: Miami 25, Syracuse 13
The Syracuse Orange had a one-point lead twice at the beginning of the second set, but Miami scored six of the next nine to take an 8-6 lead. The Hurricanes went on a 4-0 run, capitalizing on a Danilovic kill, Wiley block, and two Orange attack errors to extend their lead to six.
Syracuse got four of the next five to make it a three-point game, but Miami turned momentum back in its favor. Martinez and Asia Harvey recorded back-to-back kills to give the Hurricanes the lead into the media timeout, as the pair also contributed to the next two Miami points, making it a 17-10 game.
Three straight points by the Orange cut Miami’s lead to four, but the Hurricanes closed the set on an 8-0 run, recording six kills and closing the set thanks to a Gaby Arroyo service ace.
Set 3: Miami 25, Syracuse 16
Miami found itself in a 2-0 hole to start the third set, but it scored the next four points to take a 4-2 lead. Syracuse scored two straight to tie the set, but the Hurricanes re-extended their lead to two on Harvey and Ella Thompson kills.
The Orange got one point back, however six consecutive points from the Hurricanes gave them a seven-point lead, 12-5. Despite the deficit, Syracuse pushed, outscoring Miami 9-5 to pull within three, 17-14.
Back-to-back points from Thompson, a kill and ace, and a kill from fellow freshman Martinez, gave Miami a 20-14 lead. Three points later, leading 21-16, Lal Akin entered the match for the Hurricanes.
Arroyo recorded her fourth service ace of the match, making it 22-16, before Akin tallied a solo block, block assist alongside Harvey, and a kill to seal the 25-16 third set victory.
Up Next: The Miami Hurricanes will wrap the weekend at Boston College, facing a 1 p.m. first serve on Sunday, November 15. Coverage of the match will be available on ACCNX.