Aug. 29, 2008

Volleyball Collects Two Wins on Opening Day of Tournament

SAN MARCOS, Texas - Preseason All-ACC selection Genny Mayhew and freshman Lane Carico each registered double-doubles on Friday to help lead the University of Miami Hurricanes volleyball squad to a 2-0 start at the Century Tel Premier Tournament hosted by Texas State University.

After sweeping the first match, the Hurricanes (2-0) were forced to play incredible defense and use that to build offense against last year's defending Southland Conference champs, Texas State (1-1). The `Canes hit .237 in the match, and swallowed up 65 digs to limit the Bobcats to just a .196 hitting performance in the match.

In the first match of the day, Miami took on a strong Sacramento State team that advanced to the second round of last year's NCAA Division I Volleyball Tournament. The Hornets led the all-time series against the `Canes by a count of 1-0 entering today taking the last match, 3-0 back on Sept. 16, 2005 in the Orange and Green Challenge hosted by UM.

Eagles defeat West Virginia in Colgate Classic

HAMILTON, N.Y. -At the Colgate Classic, the Eagles defeated West Virginia in three sets (27-25, 25-23, 25-20) for their first win of the season.

It was the volleyball team's first win over the Mountaineers since a 3-1 win at Power Gym on September 27, 2003.

19th-Ranked Tigers Cruise to Season-Opening Victory Over Syracuse

CLEMSON, SC - The Tiger veterans started the 2008 season where they left off in 2007, and several new faces debuted as the 19th-ranked Clemson volleyball team cruised to a 3-0 (26-24, 25-11, 25-19) win over Syracuse in the 18th Annual Big Orange Bash on Friday night.

Danielle Hepburn clinched the win for the Tigers with her 11th kill of the night to tie Lia Proctor for match-high honors. The senior from Miami, FL also posted five kills on the night to help Clemson record eight team blocks in the contest and hold Syracuse to 29 kills. Libero Didem Ege tallied 12 digs and setter Kelsey Murphy notched 30 assists, as the juniors continue to inch closer to career records.

Florida State Volleyball Sweeps Florida A&M On Opening Day

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Seminoles opened the 2008 season with a win over the Florida A&M Rattlers on day one of the Florida State Invitational Friday, August 29. FSU swept its cross-town rival in three sets (25-13, 25-15, 25-16) to lengthen the all-time winning streak to 20-0.

Leading the way for the Seminoles was junior Jordana Price who had an impressive nine kills for a .818 attack percentage. Price also led the team with four assisted blocks and 12 points.

Georgia Tech Drops Georgia Volleyball, 3-1, in Season Opener

ATHENS, Ga. - Freshman Alison Campbell posted 20 kills in her collegiate debut and three other Yellow Jackets tallied double figures in kills as Georgia Tech dropped Georgia, 3-1 (33-31, 25-22, 22-25, 25-22), Friday night in the 2008 season opener at Ramsey Center on Georgia's campus.

Bailey Hunter and Asia Stawicka notched 10 kills apiece while senior middle Callie Miller added 14 in the opener.

Cavaliers Defeat Racers for Season Opening Sweep

HARRISONBURG, Va. - Head coach Lee Maes earned his first career victory with a 3-0 sweep of Murray State on Friday evening at the JMU Days Inn Invitational. The first-year head coach led the Cavaliers to a 25-17, 25-19, 25-15 victory in their first match of the season.

Third-year Lauren Dickson led all players with 14 kills, while fifth-year Beth Shelton landed 10. Middle blockers, fourth-year Shannon Davis and second-year Sydney Hill were efficient in their attacking duties, hitting .429 and .571, respectively.

Hokies Top Maryland-Eastern Shore in Season Opener

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Junior Michelle Lang registered her first career triple-double, helping the Virginia Tech volleyball squad to season-opening victory over Maryland Eastern-Shore, 3-1 (25-19, 26-24, 21-25, 25-23), in the Hawthorn Suites Hokie Invitational Friday night.

Lang tallied a career and team-high 13 kills, 22 assists and 10 digs, as well as hitting .579 on the evening to lead the Hokies (1-0, 0-0). Tech won their third consecutive season opener, although Maryland Eastern-Shore (0-1, 0-0) did not make it easy.

Wake Forest Opens Season With Rout of Davidson

WINSTON-SALEM - Sophomore Kristen White and graduate student Natalie Mullikin each had double-digit kills as Wake Forest opened the 2008 season with an impressive 3-0 sweep of Davidson on the opening night of the Deacon Invitational.

Wake Forest (1-0) pulled out a 25-19 victory in the first set and then breezed to 25-11 and 25-13 wins in the final two sets.

Duke Volleyball Falls 3-1 To No. 25 Purdue In Season Opener

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -Stephanie Lynch hammered 16 kills and put back a team-high seven blocks to lead No. 25 Purdue to a 3-1 (25-19, 25-22, 16-25, 25-23) win over Duke in the season opener for both teams at the Purdue Mortar Board Premier in Holloway Gymnasium Friday night.

Lynch finished 16-of-33 attacking for a team-high .364 hitting percentage and picked up six of her kills in the 25-23 fourth set victory. The senior outside hitter made just four attack errors, including just one in the match-clinching fourth set, and also added two service aces and nine digs.

Maryland Volleyball Drops Season Opener to Central Michigan

RICHMOND, Va. - Sophomore Michelle Kenning led the Terps with 11 kills on .409 hitting, but the University of Maryland volleyball team was swept in its season opener against Central Michigan in the first match of the VCU Third Degree Sportswear Invitational in Richmond, Va. Friday afternoon. Central Michigan won by scores of 25-17, 25-17 and 25-20.

Tar Heels Get Off To A Slow Start

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The University of North Carolina volleyball team fell into an early hole Friday night in Champaign, Ill. at the State Farm Illini Classic against the host Fighting Illini and were not able to bounce back as the Tar Heels were swept 3-0 (21-25, 14-25, 12-25). Carolina hit .017 for the match as it falls to 0-1 on the new campaign. The Tar Heels will face off against No. 11 Oregon at 12 noon CT and No. 24 New Mexico State at 7 p.m. CT to close out play on the opening weekend

Liberty Drops NC State Volleyball

RICHMOND, Va. - NC State dropped its second contest of the season, 3-0, to Liberty at the VCU Third Degree Sportswear Invitational on Friday, Aug. 29. The Flames out-hit the Pack .383 to .143, while landing seven service ace's to State's two.

VCU Takes Season Opener from Wolfpack Volleyball

RICHMOND, Va. - NC State dropped its 2008 season opener to Virginia Commonwealth, 3-0, at the VCU Third Degree Sportswear Invitational on Friday, Aug. 29. Co-captain Arlee Tamietti and Allyson Weissberg both led the Pack with four kills each, while Keri DeMar, Aiwane Iboaya and co-captain Alex Smith each posted three.