Nov. 1, 2002
Box Score
OXFORD, Ohio-With 13 kills, a career-high 18 digs and 10 blocks, senior outside hitter Kelly McCullough (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) produced her first career triple-double as Miami University's volleyball team dropped a 2-3 decision to Ohio University Friday night, 30-28, 27-30, 17-30, 30-17, 13-15. Miami falls to 8-15 overall and 3-8 in the Mid-American Conference, while the Bobcats improve to 18-7 overall and 8-3 in league action.
Miami jumped out to a 10-6 lead in the first game, but the Bobcats went on a 6-2 run to knot the game, 12-12. A 6-0 RedHawk run gave Miami its largest lead of the game, 21-14. Back-to-back kills from sophomore outside hitter Tara Buroker (Bluffton, Ohio/Bluffton) and a block by McCullough and senior middle hitter Jennifer Eaton (Cincinnati, Ohio/Ursuline Academy) spurred the RedHawk run. Ohio was able to close within one, 27-28, but a kill by sophomore outside hitter Angie Zent (Fort Wayne, Ind./Northrup) iced the game for the RedHawks, 30-28.
Despite trailing 14-22 in the second game, Miami persevered to go on a 6-1 run and pulled within three, 20-23. McCullough teamed up with Eaton and junior middle hitter Susan Poll (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Kentwood) to put down a pair of blocks during the Miami spurt. Again Ohio increased its advantage, this time leading by six, 27-21. The RedHawks were able to come within two, 27-29 off a Buroker kill, but Ohio won the game, 30-27, on a Miami service error.
A trio of successive service aces by freshman middle hitter Lindsey Sullenberger (Piqua, Ohio/Piqua) catapulted Miami from a three-point deficit in the third set to tie the game, 15-15. However, a 15-2 run by the Bobcats ended the game with Ohio on top 30-17.
In the fourth game, Miami jumped out of the gates quickly, opening up a 7-0 lead, bolstered by a trio of kills from Poll, including two to open the game. Eventually, the RedHawks opened up a 14-2 lead. Ohio was able to cut the RedHawk lead to eight, 18-10. Two kills by McCullough and a block by Eaton spearheaded a 5-0 run to hand the RedHawks a 29-16 lead. MuCullough ended the fourth game with a kill as the RedHawks took the 30-17 decision.
In the fifth game, the two teams went back and forth until Ohio rattled off four unanswered points to capture a 9-5 advantage. Miami was able to close within one, 13-14, but a kill by Ohio's Lindsay Judice thwarted the RedHawk come-back as the Bobcats took the match with a 15-13 game-five win.
McCullough also added four service aces to her triple-double, while Poll recorded a match-best 18 kills and had a .441 hitting percentage. Buroker tallied 15 kills and 20 digs, and Eaton produced 10 kills and eight blocks.
In an year-long contest between Ohio and Miami called "The Battle of the Bricks," Ohio improved its lead for the 2002-03 year to 4-2. Each time the Bobcats and RedHawks meet in varsity athletic competition, the outcome is counted as part of the year's series, including tournament play. Fifteen of Miami's 19 varsity sports are part of the year-long rivalry series.
The RedHawk volleyball team returns to action on Sunday, Nov. 3, hosting East Division leader Akron.
