Canespace: May 2014

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UM Baseball Is Definitely #Trending Up

Coming off its fourth consecutive ACC road sweep, the Miami Hurricanes baseball team earned its highest rankings of the spring in every national poll released Monday.

Miami matched its best ranking of the season from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, moving one spot up to No. 4. The Hurricanes cracked the top five nationally for the first time since 2009 when it was ranked No. 4 by Collegiate Baseball on April 28, but dropped to No. 5 in last week’s poll.

With a perfect 4-0 week, including a three-game road sweep of the Duke Blue Devils at Durham Bulls Athletic Park, the Hurricanes (38-14, 22-5 ACC) jumped one spot to No. 7 in the Baseball America top 25 rankings.

The rating matches Miami’s highest from the publication since March 23, 2009.

The Hurricanes also cracked the top 10 of Perfect Game’s weekly rankings for the first time this season, checking in at No. 9. Miami, who was rated No. 12 by Perfect Game last week, had one of the biggest leaps of any team this week.

Miami moved up three spots to No. 12 in the weekly USA Today coaches’ poll. The Hurricanes are one of three ACC teams in the poll, joining No. 1 Virginia and No. 4 Florida State.

Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field is home to just three more regular-season games before postseason play begins. Tickets for Thursday’s opener against North Carolina, set for 7:30 p.m. first pitch, start at just $8.

Posted at 04:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (213)

How Sweet It Is: Hurricanes Sweep Sooners

The No. 12 University of Miami women’s tennis team swept No. 18 Oklahoma 4-0 in the NCAA Second Round to advance to its ninth consecutive Sweet 16 on Saturday afternoon at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center in Coral Gables.

“I think that good things happen to good people,” head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews said. “These seven girls are really hard workers, super mature, have bought into the system and deserve what they earned today.”

Miami (21-5) didn’t get off to a strong start in doubles, but used a comeback win from Lina Lileikite and Stephanie Wagner and gutted out a win at two doubles to take a 1-0 lead in the match. After taking the doubles point in thrilling fashion, the Hurricanes capitalized on the momentum and quickly and soundly put away the Sooners in singles.

For the second day in a row, No. 90 Liliekite was the first to put Miami on the board, with her 6-0, 6-1 win against Chumney. Lileikite rolled to a 6-0 first set win and after dropping the first game of the second set, the junior won six more in a row to give Miami a 2-0 lead.

Albuquerque was next to complete her match, where she defeated Emma Devine in straight sets 6-0, 6-3 for her 18th consecutive win.

With a 3-0 lead on the scoreboard, Riobueno defeated Oklahoma’s Brhane 6-0, 6-3, clinching Miami’s ninth-straight trip to the Sweet 16.

Miami now advances to the national tournament in Athens, Ga., where each of the 16 regional winners will compete for the national championship May 15-20. The Hurricanes are slated to play UCLA or Ole Miss at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

Singles competition:
1. #29 Stephanie Wagner (UM) vs. #68 Whitney Ritchie (OU) 7-6, 1-2, unfinished
2. Clementina Riobueno (UM) def. Hermon Brhane (OU) 6-0, 6-3
3. #90 Lina Lileikite (UM) def. Morgan Chumney (OU) 6-0, 6-1
4. Melissa Bolivar (UM) vs. Mia Lancaster (OU) 0-6, 6-3, 2-1, unfinished
5. Monique Albuquerque (UM) def. Emma Devine (OU) 6-0, 6-3
6. Brittany Dubins (UM) vs. Abbi Melrose (OU) 7-5, 3-0, unfinished

Doubles competition:
1. Chumney/Ritchie (OU) def. #8 Albuquerque/Riobueno (UM) 8-5
2. Bolivar/Dubins (UM) def. Brhane/Wofford (OU) 7-6 (7-5)
3. Lileikite/Wagner (UM) def. Lancaster/Engbroks (OU) 8-5

Posted at 12:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (158)

Hot Hurricanes To Face Duke In Durham

#5 MIAMI HURRICANES (35-14, 19-5 ACC) at #30 Duke Blue Devils (30-18, 15-9 ACC)

Durham, N.C. • Durham Bulls Athletic Park (10,000)

Fri., May 9 (6 p.m. ET) • Sat., May 10 (1 p.m.) • Sun., May 11 (12 p.m.)

TV: RSN / ESPN 3 (Sunday only) | Talent: Mike Hogewood, Nick Belmonte

Video: GoDuke.com. Blue Devil Network (Friday, Saturday) ($)

Student Radio: WVUM 90.5 FM | WVUM.org (all three games)

SERIES HISTORY

The Miami Hurricanes hold a commanding 26-7 all-time series advantage over the Blue Devils, including a 10-1 all-time mark against Duke in Durham, N.C. Miami dropped two of three against Duke at Mark Light Field in 2013.

PROJECTED STARTERS

Game One: MIAMI LHP Chris Diaz (8-0, 2.15 ERA) vs. DUKE RHP Drew Van Orden (5-3, 2.96 ERA)
Game Two: MIAMI LHP Andrew Suarez (4-2, 2.64 ERA) vs. DUKE LHP Trent Swart (4-1, 0.90 ERA)
Game Three: MIAMI LHP Bryan Radziewski (5-2, 3.45 ERA) vs. DUKE RHP Michael Matuella (1-2, 2.56 ERA)

WEEKEND NEWS AND NOTES

• The No. 5 Hurricanes will wrap up their 2014 road schedule this weekend beginning with Friday’s series opener against the Duke Blue Devils. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. from Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

• Miami carries the nation’s longest road winning streak (12 games) into Friday’s series opener, and has swept three ACC road weekend series this spring. Miami has an overall away record of 14-5, including an impressive 10-2 mark in ACC road contests.

• The Hurricanes hold a commanding all-time series advantage of 26-7 over the Blue Devils - as well as a 10-1 mark in Durham - but dropped two of three games in last year’s head-to-head series at Mark Light Field.

• Miami is the hottest college baseball team in the nation, having won 22 of its last 24 games and is now in sole possession of first place in the ACC.

• With Monday’s No. 8 ranking from Baseball America, Miami has earned its highest ranking from the publication sinceMarch 2009.

• The Hurricanes’ current 12-game road winning streak is the second-longest in program history, short of a 16-game runduring the team’s 2001 national championship-winning season.

• With its impressive recent stretch, which included what was the nation’s longest winning streak at 14 games (March 26 - April 19), Miami moved into the top five of a national poll for the first time since March 2009 when it was ranked No. 4 byCollegiate Baseball Newspaper on April 28.

• Miami set a new program record with 10 consecutive ACC wins during the 14-game winning streak, besting the previous long (nine consecutive) by one win.

• Miami has won 22 of its past 24 games, including four sweeps in its last five conference weekends, to vault to No. 16 in the latest WarrenNolan.com Top 25 RPI (May 8).

• Miami has 20 wins against teams in the Warren Nolan Top 100 RPI, including four against teams in the top five RPI: one against No. 1 RPI Virginia, one against No. 3 Florida State, and a series victory (two wins) against No. 2 Florida.

• The Hurricanes’ remaining schedule includes a road series with No. 70 RPI Duke and a home weekend against No. 44 North Carolina. Miami’s strength of schedule is rated No. 28 by Warren Nolan.

Posted at 11:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (184)

I Don't Feel A Draft In Here?

The first round of the 2014 NFL draft is complete and here are some interesting facts:

Louisville had 3 players taken in the first round.

The University of Florida had 1 player drafted.

Virginia Tech had 1.

North Carolina had 1.

Pitt had 1 drafted also.

Clemson had 1.

FSU had 1 player selected as well.

The University of Miami had none.

Now, let us try to discern what that means?

Posted at 12:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (51)

Why Compromise If U Don't Have To?

Somewhere out there right now high school athletes all across the United States of America are thinking about and trying to decide where to attend college.

They are asking themselves: "Where do I want to spend the next four years of my life going to college?"

They wonder: "Should I go to the University of Miami or would I be happier in Lincoln, Blacksburg, Norman, Auburn, Tallahassee, Gainesville, Clemson, Ann Arbor, Athens, Columbus, Tuscaloosa, South Bend or Happy Valley?"

Well before you decide to choose any of these other cities or towns somewhere in the middle of some State that is losing population due to mediocre job markets, aging infrastructure and miserable weather don't you think you should consider other options?

Why go to a place like Michigan, South Carolina, Indiana, Ohio or Nebraska when maybe you should be in a better place like South Florida? Maybe you should just watch this short video about beautiful, warm, tropical Miami:

Sure you could go cow tipping in Oklahoma or Nebraska. Or maybe freeze your butt off in South Bend, Columbus or Ann Arbor. Or maybe just do absolutely nothing in some God-forsaken place like Clemson, Gainesville or Tuscaloosa.

Or go to the Florida State Capitol and listen to some politicians talking nonsense in a town without a single professional sports franchise, no beach, bad weather and not even a sliver of diversity.

Or you could go to the University of Miami and find yourself in a seriously cool and happening place. A truly major international city with incredible diversity, hot women, a lot of exciting activities, major concerts and cultural festivals year-round.

The Miami Heat plays here with some guys named Lebron James and Dwayne Wade.

The Florida Panthers play here on ice in spite of 80 degree weather year round.

The Miami Marlins play here too and in a brand new retractable roof stadium.

The Miami Dolphins play here in the very same stadium as the Miami Hurricanes.

So when making your choice of where to attend college why compromise if U don't have to?

Posted at 11:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (264)

Do U Smell Something Fishy?

NFL Hall of Famer and University of Miami football great Michael Irvin will host the 4th Annual Habitat for Humanity of the Upper Keys/University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame (UMSHoF) Celebrity Dolphin Fishing Tournament June 27-28 in Islamorada, Fla.

Event activities will take place at Founders Park at Mile Marker 87 and Coconut Cove Resort and Marina at Mile Marker 85 on the Overseas Highway. All Hurricanes fans are welcome and invited to participate and attend or observe the events.

The tournament weekend will begin Friday evening with a kick-off party and captains’ meeting followed on Saturday by a full day of fishing, awards dinner and live and silent auctions featuring unique sports memorabilia as well as a variety of gift packages.

This is the only fishing event of its kind that matches participants with former Miami Hurricanes sports stars for the competition. Cash prizes and trophies will be presented to anglers in eight categories. A portion of the tournament proceeds will go to Habitat for Humanity of the Upper Keys, The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis and the UMSHoF.

“This tournament reflects the Hall of Fame’s mission,” said K.C. Jones, president of the UMSHoF, a 2008 hall inductee, two-time Super Bowl winner with the Denver Broncos and founder of the tournament.

“Not only can University of Miami sports fans celebrate the accomplishments of our former student-athletes, they can compete side-by-side with them while raising money for local causes. We are on track for 100 boats to participate in this year’s tournament.”

Irvin added: “This is really all about the U and our family of Hurricanes fans and former student-athletes. We must embrace the mission of the UMSHoF, which is an organization that recognizes the tremendous efforts of our Hurricanes athletes, coaches and administrators.”

Former Hurricanes sports stars scheduled to participate include NFL Hall of Famer and 2012 Tournament Host Warren Sapp (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Oakland Raiders), NFL Hall of Famer Ted Hendricks (Baltimore Colts, Green Bay Packers, Oakland and Los Angeles Raiders), Clinton Portis (Denver Broncos, Washington Redskins), Brett Romberg (Jacksonville Jaguars, St. Louis Rams, Atlanta Falcons), Gary Dunn (Pittsburgh Steelers), Damione Lewis (St. Louis Rams, Carolina Panthers, New England Patriots, Houston Texans), and Randal Hill (Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints).

Tournament Information:

For information about tournament participation, including boat entry or sponsorship opportunities, visit: http://www.canesfish.com or contact Tournament Director Judy Layne at [email protected].

Save $150 on tournament fees by registering online now until June 1.

Follow us on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/canesfish.