Oct. 17, 2003

Box Score

KENT, Ohio-In a Mid-American Conference road contest, Miami University's volleyball team (7-16; 1-7 MAC) suffered a three-game loss at Kent State (9-7; 5-2 MAC) on Friday evening (Oct. 17), 10-30-, 17-30, 26-30.

The Golden Flashes posted a quick 6-0 lead in the first game and was bolstered by a .467 hitting percentage for the set. A pair of kills by senior middle hitter Susan Poll helped Miami move within five, 2-7, but Kent State rolled to the 30-10 Game One win.

Miami was able to keep things close in the early stages of the second game, but Kent State went on an 8-2 run to post a 13-6 lead. From there, the Golden Flashes rolled to the 30-17 win. Poll collected three kills for the RedHawks in the second game, while redshirt freshman middle hitter Lauren Slusser and freshman outside hitter Jordan Centers knocked down a block.

The teams practically went point-for-point to start the third game. A kill and an ace by junior outside hitter Tara Buroker lifted the RedHawks to a 7-6 lead. Kent State went on a 9-2 run to post a 19-13 lead. Two kills from sophomore setter Megan Clark and a Slusser service ace helped Miami shrink the gap to three, 18-21. KSU was able to extend its lead to five, 24-19, but a sophomore outside hitter Kristen Walters sparked surge pulled the RedHawks within two, 23-25. Walters collected two kills and assisted on a block with Slusser during the spurt. That was as close as the RedHawks would get, however, as Kent State went on to take the third game, 30-26.

For the RedHawks, Slusser and Buroker each tallied two service aces. Walters notched five kills and a .571 hitting percentage, while sophomore libero Suzy Wolford collected eight digs.

Miami travels to Akron for a 7 p.m. tilt on Saturday, Oct. 18 to round out its five-match road stretch.