Non-Revenue Sports Recap: Volleyball

In our latest edition of the Non-Revenue Sports Recaps, we look back at the season of Miami’s Volleyball program. The team is coached by Jose “Keno” Gandara, who took over the program in before the 2013 season. In his 5 seasons in Coral Gables, the volleyball program has reached the NCAA Tournament 4 times, including in 2017. The San Juan, Puerto Rico native spent 8 years as an assistant coach at the University of Washington before taking over the Canes program.

2017 was Coach Keno’s best season so far, as the Canes finished with a 22-6 record, including a 15-5 record in the ACC for a 3rd-place finish. Miami was able to advance past the first round of the NCAA tournament by knocking off the College of Charleston before getting matched up with the Florida Gators, who were ranked #2 in the country. The Lady Canes lost a hard-fought match in 4 sets to close their season with their best winning percentage since 2012.

Olga Strantzali and Haley Templeton were the standout players for the Canes, and they both secured AVCA All-American Honorable Mention nods to close out the season. This was Strantzali’s second straight All-American season, and the Thessaloniki, Greece native also reeled in ACC Player of the Year and AVCA East Coast Region Player of the Year awards as well. She will continue her career at the professional level next year with the Beziers Angels in France. Templeton missed all of 2016 with an injury and returned with her best season at the collegiate level, running the Canes offense as their starting setter. The Alpharetta, GA native led the ACC in assists per set, and set the school record for service aces in a match with 8 against Virginia on November 17th. The 2014 ACC Freshman of the Year also earned 2 ACC player of the week honors in 2017.

The MIami Volleyball program opens their 2018 season on August 24th against Florida Atlantic. Come back next week for more Non-Revenue Sports Recaps.