Miami Ohio University Athletics
Volleyball Team Drops Heart-breaker To Central Michigan
9/29/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Erika Eagan had one of the best matches of her young career, posting 13 kills, 25 digs, four blocks and three service aces to pace the RedHawks.
Miami made things exciting in game one, battling back from a 2-7 deficit to take the first game, 16-14. A Sara Uehlin service ace sparked a mini-rally by the RedHawks, who rattled off five straight points and gave Miami the 8-7 lead. Miami inched out to a 13-10 lead, but the Chippewas regrouped to earn a 14-13 advantage. The RedHawks went on to score three points over the next 12 services to take the 1-0 lead in the match.
Another Uehlin service ace evened the second game, 7-7. CMU, however, recorded six unanswered points to take a 13-7 advantage. Eagan served up an ace to give Miami its eighth point of the match. The Chippewas posted three points to capture the second game, 15-8.
Miami rebounded in the third game with a dominant 15-5 triumph. Two straight service aces by Uehlin, her third and fourth of the match, gave Miami an 8-3 advantage. Later, Jessica Rayburg handed Summer Clouse the serve on a side-out kill. Two more kills by Rayburg and a block by Rayburg and Kelly McCullough iced the third game for Miami.
With a 4-10 deficit in hand, Miami rallied to pull within two, 12-14, but was unable to hold off the Chippwas in game four. CMU sent the match into rally scoring with a 15-13 game four win.
In its sixth rally scoring match of the season, Miami was able to keep the deciding game close for a while, battling CMU to a 9-9 tie. Central Michigan took a 13-9 lead, but the RedHawks notched the next point to cut the CMU lead to three. The Chippewas took a 14-10 lead, but again, Miami answered right back with a point of its own. Central Michigan, however claimed the match on a Jenny Young kill.
McCullough recorded 13 kills, 10 digs and four blocks for the Red and White, while Rayburg added 12 kills and five blocks. Susan Poll added 11 kills and six blocks, and Clouse amassed 37 assists and three service aces.
The RedHawks host Kent State Saturday night at 7 p.m. Miami will honor its 1990 MAC Championship team, celebrating the 10th anniversary of its title, between games two and three of Saturday's contest.
