Miami Ohio University Athletics
Miami Volleyball Team Earns First Mid-American Conference Win
10/6/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Eagan, who turned 20 years old today, paced Miami (5-10; 1-3 MAC) in its 3-1 (8-15, 15-6, 15-1, 15-13) triumph over Buffalo (4-12; 0-5 MAC) with 17 kills, 14 digs and three service aces.
Buffalo jumped out of the gates, opening up a 7-3 lead against the RedHawks in the first game. Capped by a Robyn Byrnes' (Cincinnati, Ohio/Ursuline Academy) service ace, Miami was able to close the gap, 6-7. Buffalo, however, owned the rest of the game, capturing a 15-8 win to open up the match.
Avenging the first game loss, the second game was all Miami. After the RedHawks jumped out to a 6-1 lead, the Bulls pulled to within one, 5-6. Jennifer Eaton (Cincinnati, Ohio/Ursuline Academy) made her return to action from a three-week bout with mononucleosis in grand fashion. Although she saw limited action, Eaton posted a block on her first play after entering the match. Miami rattled off seven unanswered points to take a 13-5 lead. The Bulls were able to tally one more points before Miami took game two, 15-6, on a Susan Poll (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Kentwood) kill to even the match, 1-1.
Sara Uehlin (Cincinnati, Ohio/Ursuline Academy) opened up game three with a service ace. Miami went on an 11-0 run before Buffalo tallied its first point of the game. A Kelly McCullough (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) service ace and kills by Lee Ann Karr (Kirkwood, Mo./Kirkwood) and Eagan iced the game for the RedHawks. Miami hit an impressive .714 in game three to capture the 15-1 triumph.
Down 0-6, Miami steadily battled back to tie the game, 6-6. The RedHawks' mini-rally was ignited by a Uehlin service ace, and continued by a devastating block by Eagan and Poll and an Amy Pfohl (Toledo, Ohio/St. Ursula Academy) service ace. Powerful kills by McCullough, Pfohl and Poll furthered the Miami advantage, 11-6, and forced a Buffalo time-out. Buffalo recorded four unanswered points, including a Larissa LaCour service ace, to cut the lead to one and spur a Miami time-outs. The Bulls tied the game on a block and took a 12-11 lead off a Miami attack error. McCullough tallied a key kill to give the RedHawks back their serve. Eagan promptly dished out a service ace to again even the game, 12-12. A Jessica Rayburg (Arnold, Pa./Valley) kill gave Miami the one-point edge, but Buffalo retaliated to again tie the game. Miami posted its final two points of the game to take the match on a 15-13 game four win.
Along with Eagan, Miami received strong performances from McCullough (16 kills, .423 hitting percentage), Poll (15 kills, .367 hitting percentage) and Summer Clouse (Tiffin, Ohio/Hopewell-Loudon), who had 55 assists.
Miami hosts Ohio tomorrow night at 7 p.m.
