Sept. 14, 2002

Box Score

FORT WORTH, Texas-Despite a four-game loss to TCU in its final match in the TCU Invitational, Miami University's volleyball team (5-6) seized the tournament crown-its first tournament title since the 1999 season. Junior middle hitter Susan Poll (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Kentwood) earned tournament MVP honors, while sophomore outside hitter Tara Buroker (Bluffton, Ohio/Bluffton) was named to her third straight all-tournament team.

The RedHawks fell to the Horned Frogs (6-4) 24-30, 27-30, 30-23, 28-30.

In the first game, Miami went back and forth with TCU in the early stages of the game, but the Horned Frogs went on a 9-3 run to take a 20-13 lead. Kills by senior middle hitter Jennifer Eaton (Cincinnati, Ohio/Ursuline Academy) and senior outside hitter Kelly McCullough (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) helped cut the Horned Frog advantage to five, 25-18, but eventually TCU built a nine-point lead, 27-19, and went on to win the game 30-24.

Miami jumped out to a 12-6 lead in the second game, thanks in part to four kills by Poll. But the Horned Frogs came back to tie the game 19-19. TCU went on to take a 29-23 lead, but the RedHawks continued to battle the Horned Frogs. Two kills from Eagan, a kill by McCullough and block by the duo helped cut the Horned Frog lead to two, 27-29. However, a TCU kill ended the RedHawk comeback as the Horned Frogs took the second game, 30-27.

Again Miami was able to build an early lead, only this time the RedHawks were able to maintain their lead throughout, taking the third game 30-23. A kill by Angie Zent (Fort Wayne, Ind./Northrup) helped lift Miami to its largest lead of the match, 24-14. From there the RedHawks rolled to the game three win. Poll iced the game with a powerful solo block.

Things were tight at the start of the fourth game until TCU notched four straight points to take a 19-14 lead. A pair of kills from Buroker and a kill by McCullough enabled Miami to close the gap to one, 20-21. TCU, however, quickly extended its lead, 26-21. With match point on the line, 24-29, Miami did not give up. The RedHawks held their ground and inched back to within one, 28-29. A TCU kill, however, halted Miami's efforts and ended the match as the Horned Frogs took the fourth game, 30-28.

Poll paced the RedHawks with 16 kills and a .394 hitting percentage, while senior outside hitter Erika Eagan (Bloomington, Ill./Tri-Valley) amassed a team-best 17 digs. McCullough posted 13 kills and 10 digs, while Buroker added 13 kills and nine digs. Eaton notched 12 kills and four blocks. Freshman libero Lindsay Simpson (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota West) had a solid outing with 13 digs, while freshman setter Megan Clark (Solon, Ohio/Solon) tallied 47 assists and seven digs.

Miami travels to No. 9 Ohio State on Wednesday, Sept. 18 for a 7 p.m. match.