University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Blows Past the Hurricanes, 3-1
10/25/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
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STORRS, CT (Oct. 25) - With convincing game wins to begin and end the match, the University of Connecticut women’s volleyball team (14-10, 2-4) defeated the University of Miami (16-6, 5-1) in four games to hand the Hurricanes their first BIG EAST loss this season. Jamie Hadenfeldt (Benicia, CA) led the Huskies on offense with 20 kills, and Xaimara Coss (Brooklyn, NY) was unrelenting on defense with 27 digs.
UConn out-hit their opponent .238 to .107 for the game, which they won by scores of 30-20, 31-29, 25-30 and 30-18. Megan Crawley (Georgetown, TX) recorded a career-high 10 blocks, and tallied a double-double by also knocking down 13 kills. Raftyn Birath (Marshall, MN) was also strong for the Huskies with 14 kills.
The Huskies took an early lead which they never relinquished in game one, stifling the Miami offense who recorded just eight kills and matched that number in errors, while UConn recorded 17 kills.
The second game proved to be a nail-biter, as the Huskies found themselves down late in the game by a score of 26-29. A kill by Hadenfeldt followed by a service ace for Crawley pulled UConn within one point, and a solo block by Julie Erbez (Stockton, CA) tied the score at 29-29. The Hurricanes then committed two attacking errors to give the Huskies the comeback win.
The momentum swung the way of Miami in game three, as the Hurricanes took an early lead and held it throughout. Francheska Savage was strong for Miami in the game with six kills and just one error on eight attempts, and Karla Johnson notched five kills with no errors. The Hurricanes out-hit UConn .234 to .190 for the game.
With seven kills from Hadenfeldt, and 26 team digs including 10 by Coss, the Huskies dominated in game four of the match. UConn had their best hitting performance of the match with a percentage of .326, while Miami managed to hit just .038. The Huskies held a strong early lead at 10-2, and the Hurricanes were able to get within no fewer than three points down the stretch.
Leyre Santaella Sante led Miami in kills with 15, and also recording double-figure kills were Johnson who finished with 14, and Savage who chipped in 12. Jamie Grass led the Hurricanes on defense with 25 digs.
The Huskies return to action on Sunday, Oct. 26 when they host BIG EAST rival Virginia Tech at 2:00 p.m. in Harry A. Gampel Pavilion.
