Miami Ohio University Athletics
Miami Travels to Atlanta for Georgia Tech Invitational
9/5/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 5, 2002
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MIAMI TO FACE THREE 2001 NCAA TOURNAMENT PARTICIPANTS
Miami started a two and a half week road stretch with a 0-3 loss at local rival Cincinnati on Tuesday. The RedHawks continue their string of road trips at the Georgia Tech Invitational this weekend, facing Florida A&M at 5 p.m. on Friday and taking on No. 22 Louisville at 11 a.m. on Saturday before battling host Georgia Tech at 7 p.m. All four of the RedHawks' opponents this week advanced to the NCAA tournament last year (Cincinnati, Florida A&M, Louisville and Georgia Tech).
BUROKER NAMED MAC EAST DIVISION PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sophomore outside hitter Tara Buroker (Bluffton, Ohio/Bluffton) wasted no time making her presence felt on the court for the RedHawks in their season-opening weekend and earned Mid-American Conference East Division Player of the Week honors for her efforts. For the weekend, Buroker, who earned Miami Classic All-Tournament Team laurels, paced the RedHawks averaging 4.20 digs and 3.40 kills per game. Her 4.20 digs per game rank second among conference leaders, while her 3.40 kills per game ties for ninth. She also ranks ninth in the MAC for hitting percentage (.300). This is the first player of the week honor for Buroker.
A FRESH START
Last weekend, freshman setter Megan Clark (Solon, Ohio/Solon) became the first true freshman to earn starting setter duties during head coach Carolyn Condit's 19-year Miami tenure. Clark guided the RedHawks to wins over IPFW and Delaware and averaged 8.89 assists per game in her first weekend with the RedHawks. After four matches, Clark is averaging 8.67 assists per game. In Miami's season opener against IPFW, Clark compiled 42 assists, five digs, three kills and two blocks over four games.
BUROKER'S "BUR"-AKE OUT
Sophomore outside hitter Tara Buroker, the youngest captain named during head coach Carolyn Condit's 19-year tenure, burst out of the gates in Miami's season opener against IPFW to amass a career-best 29 digs, 17 kills and a .385 hitting percentage to lead the RedHawks in all three categories. In the first game against the Mastodons, Buroker compiled an impressive 15 of her 29 digs. For the weekend, Buroker paced the RedHawks averaging 4.20 digs and 3.40 kills per game.
MIAMI CLASSIC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Three players earned all-tournament team laurels at the Miami Best Western/Sycamore Inn Classic: sophomore outside hitter Tara Buroker, senior outside hitter Erika Eagan (Bloomington, Ill./Tri-Valley) and junior middle hitter Susan Poll (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Kentwood). This is the first time any of the three players have earned all-tournament team honors.
ABOUT THE TOURNAMENT FIELD
FLORIDA A&M-After topping Troy State in three games on Tuesday,-30-19, 30-24, 30-19-the Rattlerettes are off to a 1-0 start. Adriana Kostadinova paced FAMU with 13 kills, while Andreina Ruiz posted 10 kils and 10 digs. #22 LOUISVILLE-Sonja Percan was named the Conference USA Player of the Week after averaging 5.00 kills per game and serving up seven aces in Louisville's tournament last weekend. The Cardinals posted a 3-0 record, including a three-game win over then-No. 6 Arizona (30-19, 30-17, 30-28). Sarah Drury averaged a team-best 4.80 digs per game. GEORGIA TECH-Averaging 4.54 kills per game and 3.31 digs per game, Lynnette Moster paced Georgia Tech to a 3-1 weekend. The Yellow Jackets' only loss was at the hands of Northern Iowa in four games.
SERIES VERSUS THE TOUNAMENT FIELD
Miami has previously met two of the weekend's three opponents. The RedHawks will be facing Florida A&M for the first time. Only once before has Miami clashed with Georgia Tech with the Yellow Jackets taking a four-game win at the Kentucky Invitational in 1996. Louisville and Miami have met on 14 occassions with the Cardinals posting a 10-4 lead in the series. Miami also faced Louisville in 1996, dropping a four-game decision in Millett Hall. The RedHawks' last win against Louisville was in three games at home in 1994. Miami owns a 1-0 record when playing on a neutral court, capturing a 2-0 win in the Western Michigan Invitational in 1982.
CINCINNATI 3, MIAMI 0
Despite leading midway through each game, Miami was unable to maintain its advantage and fell to Cincinnati in three games, 25-30, 26-30 and 26-30.
In the first game, Miami opened up a four-point lead, 15-11. The Bearcats, however, rattled off four-straight points to knot the game at 15-15. The two teams went back and forth until UC recorded six straight points to capture a 26-22 edge. The lead proved to be too much to overcome as the Bearcats went on to take the first game, 30-25.
Service errors proved to be costly for the RedHawks in the second game. Seven Miami service errors contributed to the 26-30 game two loss. Again, the RedHawks were able to take a four-point lead, 14-10. The Bearcats crept back in to the game to take a 19-18 lead and rolled to the 30-26 win in the second game.
Miami led from the start of the third game and owned a seven-point lead midway through the set, 18-11. Inching their way back, the Bearcats overcame the gap and took a two-point lead off a four-point run, 24-22. Cincinnati went on to take the game and the match 30-26.
Sophomore outside hitter Tara Buroker paced the RedHawks with 11 kills and 17 digs, while junior middle hitter Susan Poll added 10 kills and five blocks.
TOUGH FOES
Six of Miami's 12 non-conference opponents advanced to the 2001 NCAA Tournament: Louisville, Georgia Tech, Ohio State, Cincinnati, San Jose State and Florida A&M. Four of those six reached the second round, while Ohio State went on to the regional semifinal. Two teams are ranked in the AVCA/USA Today Preseason Coaches' Poll. Ohio State is ranked No. 10, while Louisville is No. 22.
ROAD WARRIORS
Following the Miami Best Western/Sycamore Inn Classic, the RedHawks host only one home match over a five-week span. Miami plays in the Georgia Tech and TCU tournaments and at Cincinnati, Ohio State and Dayton over the first two and a half weeks of that stretch. The RedHawks return home to host Western Ontario on Sept. 21 before opening league action on the road for two straight weekends.
750 AND THEN SOME
Miami head coach Carolyn Condit coached her 750th career match in Miami's season opener against IPFW. In her 23rd season as a head coach, Condit owns a 452-301 record. In January, Condit, who boasts a league-best 187 career MAC wins, was inducted into Miami's Athletic Hall of Fame.
NEWCOMERS MAKE WEEKEND CONTRIBUTIONS
Four of Miami's newcomers made contributions over the weekend. In addition to freshman setter Megan Clark, who started two matches for the RedHawks this weekend, Suzy Wolford (Batavia, Ill./Batavia), Kristen Walters (Springfield, Ohio/Shawnee), Lindsay Simpson (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota West) and Lindsey Sullenberger (Piqua, Ohio/Piqua) all earned playing time in the Miami Best Western/Sycamore Inn Classic. Wolford, who saw action in five games, played various roles for the RedHawks seeing time as a setter and libero. Walters and Simpson were also used as liberos, while Sullenberger saw time at middle hitter. Also seeing court time for the first time in her career was sophomore outside hitter Angie Zent (Fort Wayne, Ind./Northrup). Zent, who has been plagued with injuries over the past two seasons, played in six of Miami's 10 games over the weekend.
FOR OPENERS
Over its 29-year history, Miami improved to 14-15 in opening matches with a four-game win over IPFW last Friday in the Miami Best Western/Sycamore Inn Classic. The past 10 seasons Miami has posted an 8-2 mark. Even more impressive, the RedHawks have won five-straight season-opening matches. When opening the season in a tournament, Miami is 7-7.
FOR OPENERS II
When opening the season at home, Miami is 8-3 (Miami records for home and away contests date back to 1979) and has won its last four home season openers (1994 vs. Western Kentucky, 3-0; 1999 vs. Northwestern, 3-0; 2000 vs. TCU, 3-2; 2002 vs. IPFW, 3-1). Three times Miami has opened its season with the Miami Classic and all three times posted wins in its season opener (1994 vs. Western Kentucky; 2000 vs. TCU; 2002 vs. IPFW).
ALL-"MAC"CULLOUGH
Earning first team honors last season, senior outside hitter Kelly McCullough is one of only two returning first-team All-MAC performers in the league. McCullough became the 10th junior in Miami volleyball history to attain first-team all-MAC distinction.
MILESTONE MARKS
Two single-season records fell last season as outside hitter Erika Eagan captured the record for digs per game (3.98) and middle hitter Jennifer Eaton claimed the block assist record (128). Eagan's 410 digs also ranked fourth on Miami's single-season chart, while outside hitter Kelly McCullough placed her name on Miami's single-season kills per game list (3.89-t-4th) and block assist chart (105-t-6th).
SENIOR TRIO EMBARKING ON CAREER MILESTONES
Kelly McCullough, Erika Eagan and Jennifer Eaton are all embarking on career milestones this season. McCullough needs 190 kills to reach the 1,000-kill plateau, while Eagan needs 273 digs to reach 1,000 career digs. Both Eaton and McCullough are chasing Miami's career block assist record. McCullough owns 227 block assists and needs 120 more to surpass Kristin Wagner's (1989-92) 347 career block assist total. Eaton is just two behind McCullough with 225.
NATIONAL NUMBERS
At the conclusion of the 2001 season, middle hitter Jennifer Eaton and outside hitter Erika Eagan ranked among national leaders in blocks and digs, respectively. Eaton, who averaged 1.52 blocks per game, ranked 13th nationally in blocks per game, while Eagan's 3.98 digs per game ranked 22nd nationally. As a team, the RedHawks finished the season 29th among national leaders in blocks per game, averaging 2.82. Miami also ranked among the top 25 percent for attendance during the 2001 campaign.
MIAMI'S TRIPLE CROWN
Last year, middle hitter Jennifer Eaton tied the most triple-doubles produced nationally during the 2001 season, achieving the feat four times. She also recorded the first back-to-back triple-doubles on record for the Miami University volleyball program and became the first in the program's history to produce four triple-doubles in the same season and in a career. All of Eaton's triple-doubles came in four-game matches, amassing double figures in kills, blocks and digs for all four.
EATON UP THE HONORS
In addition to producing four triple doubles last season, Jennifer Eaton was named to the MAC all-Tournament Team, earned second-team all-MAC recognition and was a second-team Verizon Academic all-District IV selection.
MAC'S TOP BLOCKING DUO FROM 2001 RETURNS
Middle hitter Jennifer Eaton and outside hitter Kelly McCullough have been quite the blocking duo for Miami. Eaton, who led the league in blocks with 1.52 blocks per game, and McCullough, who was the league's top blocking outside hitter, accounted for 50 percent of the RedHawks' league-best 2.82 block-per-game average last season. No other tandem in the league teamed up for as many blocks per game. This season the two are averaging 1.44 blocks per game apiece.
OTHER TOP RETURNERS
Junior middle hitter Susan Poll (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Kentwood) and sophomore outside hitter Tara Buroker (Bluffton, Ohio/Bluffton) are two of Miami's top returning letterwinners. Poll has been a mainstay in the RedHawk lineup over the past two seasons and earned freshman all-MAC recognition in 2000. Buroker earned time at outside hitter last year and is a team captain for the 2002 season along with Jennifer Eaton and Kelly McCullough.
ON THE MEND
Three RedHawks are returning to the courts after rehabilitating injuries over the past year. Junior setter Melinda McCormick (Kalamazoo, Mich./Loy Norrix) had corrective surgery on both feet in the off-season but has made steady progress this summer. Junior outside hitter Amy Pfohl (Toledo, Ohio/St. Ursula Academy) returns after taking a medical redshirt season last year after a complete reconstruction of her anterior cruciate ligament. Sophomore outside hitter Angie Zent sat out last season with a nagging shoulder injury but has been full-go this season.
NUMBER OF NEWCOMERS
Although Miami has a strong nucleus of returning players, it also boasts eight newcomers to its roster: redshirt freshman Kristin Walters, OH and true freshmen Megan Clark, S ; Natalie Kapteyn, MH (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Kentwood); Lindsay Simpson, L/OH; Lauren Slusser, MH (Columbus Grove, Ohio/Columbus Grove); Lindsey Sullenberger, MH; Suzy Wolford, S; and Linda Young, OH (Minster, Ohio/Minster).
