Nov. 3, 2002

Box Score

OXFORD, Ohio-Although Miami University's volleyball team jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the match, Akron rebounded to take the next three games to put the RedHawks in their fourth five-game match in six contests, dropping all four final games by a two-point margin. The East Division leading Zips captured a 24-30, 27-20, 30-27, 30-17, 16-14 win on Sunday afternoon to improve to 19-5 overall and 10-2 in the Mid-American Conference. Miami falls to 8-16 overall and 3-9 in league play.

Sophomore outside hitter Tara Buroker (Bluffton, Ohio/Bluffton) had an outstanding defensive effort for Miami, producing a career-high 34 digs along with five blocks. She also posted a team-best 14 kills for the RedHawks.

After a 5-5 tie in the first game, Miami pounded out 12 unanswered points to take its largest lead of the contest, 17-5. Two kills apiece from senior outside hitter Kelly McCullough (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) and senior middle hitter Jennifer Eaton (Cincinnati, Ohio/Ursuline Academy) and two blocks by the duo highlighted the 12-point spurt. The Zips, however, gained momentum and closed to within two, 20-22, but Miami rounded out the first set on an 8-4 run, and junior middle hitter Susan Poll (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Kentwood) knocked down a kill to ice the game for the RedHawks, 30-24.

Despite trailing through much of the second game, and down by as many as four, 14-18, Miami dug deep to rattle off five unanswered points and take the 19-18 edge. Poll tallied a kill and freshman middle hitter Lindsey Sullenberger (Piqua, Ohio/Piqua) added a service ace during the run. Trailing 23-25, Miami notched six straight points to take a 29-25 lead. Sophomore outside hitter Angie Zent (Fort Wayne, Ind./Northrup) put down a big block and had a kill to account for two of the RedHawks' six points during the run. The Zips were able to close the gap to two, 29-27, but a kill by McCullough ended the second game with the RedHawks on top 30-27.

Miami lead by as many as four early in the third game, 7-3, thanks to back-to-back service aces by Sullenberger, but Akron manufactured a 7-1 run to capture a 15-11 edge and a lead it would not relinquish. The Zips opened up a six-point lead, 21-15, however the RedHawks battled back to cut the edge to one, 27-28. That would be as close as Miami would get as the Zips received their final two points off a Miami service error and a kill by senior Katie Kuzior to take the third game, 30-27.

In the fourth game, Akron jumped out to a quick 9-2 lead and rolled from there as the Zips went on to post a 30-17 win in the fourth set. Akron was tallying points in clusters, with its greatest run being a 6-0 spurt mid-way through the set, highlighted by a Jenn Snyder service ace.

Miami jumped out to a 4-2 lead in the fifth game with kills by Zent, Poll and Buroker and a block by the Poll/Buroker duo. Akron battled back to knot the game, 6-6, but Miami progressively built a three-point edge, 10-7. Again, the Zips climbed back into the game and tied things up at 10-10. Kills from Poll and Buroker helped Miami put the set at game point with a 14-12 lead, but a Snyder service ace and kills by Akron's Kuzior and Sandy Lewis iced the game for the Zips, 16-14.

For the RedHawks, McCullough tallied 11 kills, 11 digs and five blocks, while Eaton notched 12 kills 11 digs and six blocks. Sullenberger recorded a career-best four service aces, and Poll added 11 kills and four blocks.

The RedHawks hit the road for their lone contests of the week, battling Kent State at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8.