"The team skated great this weekend and represented the United States very well," said head coach Vicki Korn. "We will have to get back to work when we get to Oxford and strive on improving. We know we are getting closer to a medal."

This is the second straight major international competition that Miami has finished just one spot short of earning the United States its first international medal. Last year, Miami finished fourth at the World Championships in Prague. The RedHawks will have another shot at earning a medal in a two months if it qualifies for the World Championships in London, Ontario on March 30-31.

"As a sport, synchronized skating took a big step forward at the World University Games," Korn said. "When the Olympic Organizing Committee is looking at emerging sports, this is the place they test it out and see how it fares. We skated if front of great, energetic crowds all weekend long and if things go right, we could see this sport added to the roster when the Olympics head to Vancouver in 2010."