Oct. 31, 2003

Box Score

HUNTINGTON, W. Va-Savoring a sweet Halloween treat, Miami University's volleyball squad (8-18; 2-9 Mid-American Conference) captured a thrilling five-game win at Marshall (15-12; 5-5 MAC) to end a 10-match drought, 30-28, 21-30, 22-30, 31-29 and 15-11.

Trailing early in the first game, Miami rebounded to take a 14-9 lead with help from kills by junior outside hitter Tara Buroker and sophomore outside hitter Kristen Walters. Marshall battled back and led by four on three occasions, the last coming at 25-21. Two service aces by junior outside hitter Angie Zent and a pair of Thundering Herd attack errors knotted the game, 25-25. The two teams went back and forth until a Marshall blocking error and a kill by senior middle hitter Susan Poll iced the game for the RedHawks, 30-28.

Aided by kills from Poll and Walters, Miami quickly took a 4-1 lead in the second game. Marshall pulled within one, 7-6, but a Thundering Herd service error gave Miami a two-point cushion, 8-6. From there, Marshall went on a 6-0 run to post a 12-8 lead and never looked back as the Thundering Herd claimed the second game, 30-21.

Sophomore middle hitter Natalie Kapteyn opened the third game teaming up with Walters and Buroker on blocks to post a 2-0 lead for the RedHawks. Kills by senior setter Melinda McCormick, Kapteyn and Zent spurred Miami to an 8-4 lead. Miami led 17-13 when Marshall went on an 8-1 spurt to take a 21-18 lead. A kill by redshirt freshman middle hitter Lauren Slusser and a block by Walters pulled Miami within one, 20-21, but the Thundering Herd went on a 4-0 surge to post a 25-20 edge. From there, Marshall went on a 5-2 run to take the third game, 30-22.

A service ace by Walters and a kill by McCormick helped Miami gain an early 4-1 edge in the fourth game. Eventually, the Herd knotted the game 9-9 and it was a nip-and-tuck battle until a Marshall net violation, a kill by Slusser and a Zent block handed the RedHawks a 21-18 edge. Marshall, however, rattled off three unanswered points off kills to tie the game, 21-21. The two teams traded points until Marshall collected three straight points off two kills and a Miami attack error to take a 26-24 advantage. A kill by Zent helped Miami knot the game, 26-26. A kill and a service ace by Zent cinched the game for the RedHawks, 31-29.

In the fifth game, kills by Slusser and Walters sparked Miami to a 3-1 lead. Marshall came back to tie the game, 4-4, but Miami collected two unanswered points, capped by a McCormick/Kapteyn block to take the 6-4 lead. A kill by Zent, a block by Slusser and McCormick and a powerful Slusser kill handed the RedHawks a four-point edge, 11-7. After a Slusser kill gave Miami a 12-8 lead, Marshall pulled within one, 12-11. Miami, however, rattled off the final three points, two of which came of Buroker kills, to take the fifth game 15-11.

For the RedHawks, Buroker collected 13 kills and 19 digs, while Slusser tallied 13 kills and five blocks. Zent notch 10 kills and three service aces, and Walters added nine kills, 12 digs and four blocks.

Miami returns to action on Sunday, Nov. 2, entertaining Kent State at 2:30 p.m.