Miami Hurricane volleyball is coming off a solid 2024-25 season after a 22-11 (ACC 12-8) record with a first round tournament win over the South Dakota State Jackrabbits before falling to Nebraska in the next round.
The ’Canes are led by head coach Jose “Keno” Gandara, who is heading into his 13th year at Miami. He is aiming to make the NCAA tournament for a fifth season in a row.
As the season gets underway, here is a look at how the team is shaping up.
Locker room full of new faces
The Hurricanes lost five players to the portal last off-season, including the team’s second leader in kills, Grace Lopez, who joined the Wisconsin Badgers.
In addition to those lost to the portal, the ’Canes also lost a significant part of their roster for other reasons including graduating players. With this, Miami only returns five players out of a team of 17 from last season.
The Hurricanes have filled the void in the roster with five transfers, sophomore Kate Lijic (Utah State), sophomore Logan Wiley (Georgia Tech), junior and Miami native Gaby Arroyo (Dayton), graduate students Lilou Stegeman (American University) and Jazmin Vergara (Tennessee State), and six freshman.
These new faces must mesh well together if Miami hopes to achieve another winning season.
Star returns for senior season
A huge win that came during the off-season for UM was the unexpected return of their star player, senior Flormarie Heredia Colon.
Why was this unexpected? Because during last semester, Heredia Colon had transferred over the Florida Gators. However, she changed her mind and has come back to Miami ready for his senior season.
The powerful hitting player from the Dominican Republic dominated the court last season as she was named to the All-ACC First Team. She was also second in the ACC for kills and points at the end of the year.
In addition to her impressive junior year statline, Heredia Colon is also eighth on UM’s all-time career kills list with 1117 – a number likely to only grow.
Who could the starters look like this season?
The setter seems like the safest pick with returning redshirt sophomore Ariana Rodriguez is more than likely keeping her spot after a great season last year. Dalia Wilson, a main middle blocker and returning senior, is experienced and was third on the Hurricanes in kills last year with 159. However, Stegeman and Wiley should get significant playing time as well. . The libero will either be four year ’Cane, senior Naylani Feliciano or the Dayton transfer, Arroyo.
As long Heredia Colon does not need a breather, she will be on the court as an outside hitter. As for the other outside hitter, players like returning junior Ava Carney and Tennessee State transfer Vergara could compete for some playing time.
With a squad where the majority consists of new players, there is potentially a lot of playing time up for grabs.
A quick look at the schedule
Miami’s first official match is against the Indiana Hoosiers in the ’Canes Classic on Friday, Aug. 29 at 6:00 p.m.
Opponents to keep an eye for UM this season include preseason top 25 teams like No. 22 Georgia Tech, No. 3 Pittsburgh, No. 10 SMU, No. 6 Stanford and No. 4 Louisville.
Per usual, the ACC is a tough conference for volleyball and the Hurricanes will have their work cut out for them this season.