Oct. 20, 2001

Box Score

KENT, Ohio - In a five game battle, Miami University's volleyball team was outlasted by Kent State, 27-30, 30-26, 30-22, 27-30 and 10-15. The RedHawks fall to 9-8 overall and 6-4 in the Mid-American Conference, while Kent State improves to 12-7 overall and 7-5 in the MAC.

Miami came out of the gates strong, posting an early 10-6 lead. Kent State, however, tied the game 11-11, 12-12, 13-13 and rolled from there. The Golden Flashes led by as many as four, 17-13, and went on to post the 30-27 Game One win. Kelly McCullough paced the RedHawks in the first set with eight kills and a .571 hitting percentage.

Despite trailing 10-14 in the early stages, Miami chipped away at the KSU lead to tie the game, 15-15, spurred by a Jennifer Eaton service ace. The two teams battled back and forth until Miami captured a 21-20 lead and outscored the Golden Flashes nine to six down the stretch. A kill by Erika Eagan and a block by Eagan and Jessica Rayburg handed Miami its final lead of the game. McCullough continued her offensive assault, posting four kills and a .444 hitting percentage in the second stanza.

A blistering .474 hitting percentage ignited Miami to a 30-22 win in the third game. It was a tight battle through the early stages of the game. After a 16-16 tie, Miami rattled off three unanswered points and gained a lead it would not relinquish. Kills by Eagan, Summer Clouse and a block by Clouse and Eaton paced Miami down the stretch to take a 2-1 lead in the match.

Kent State jumped out to an early 8-3 lead in the fourth game, but Miami rattled off five unanswered points to knot the game, 8-8. Again the RedHawks fell behind, but again battled their way back, tying the game at 22-22. Miami built a 25-22 edge, but KSU came back to tie the game, 26-26. The Golden Flashes outscored the 'Hawks four to one to take the fourth game 30-27 and send the match to a deciding game.

In the fifth game, the RedHawks fell behind 1-4, but notched four straight points off two McCullough kills and a block by McCullough and Poll to take the 5-4 edge. The two teams traded points until Kent State posted a 10-7 lead off two Miami attack errors and a kill. Miami pulled to within two, 8-10, but the Golden Flashes notched five points to Miami's two to take the fifth game and the match off a 15-10 win.

Miami was paced by McCullough's 23 kills, 10 digs and .429 hitting percentage. Eaton notched 12 kills, 20 digs and five blocks for the RedHawks.

Miami returns to action next Friday, hosting Eastern Michigan at 7 p.m.