Nov. 2, 2003
Box Score
OXFORD, Ohio--Redshirt freshman middle hitter Lauren Slusser (Columbus Grove, Ohio/Columbus Grove) drilled a career-high 23 kills and produced a sizzling .571 hitting percentage to lead all players, however, it was not enough as Miami University's volleyball squad (8-19; 2-10 Mid-American Conference) was edged in a five-game match by Kent State University (10-11; 6-6 MAC), 30-25, 25-30, 30-21, 26-30, 15-11. This was the second straight five-game match for both Miami and Kent State.
Slusser connected on all seven of her attack attempts and knocked down two blocks to spark Miami in the first game. A kill by Slusser helped Miami claim a 15-6 lead. With Miami owning a 27-20 advantage, Kent State went on a 4-0 run off two kills by junior middle blocker Kara Warnke, a junior middle blocker Ruth Ladurner-Schnitzer service ace and a kill by junior outside hitter Michelle Corniffe to pull within three, 27-24. After a kill by senior middle hitter Susan Poll (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Kentwood), another Warnke kill kept the Golden Flashes within three, 28-25. A KSU service error and a kill by junior outside hitter Angie Zent (Fort Wayne, Ind./Northrop) iced the first game for the RedHawks, 30-25.
No team held more than a three-point edge throughout much of the second game. A pair of Zent's seven kills for the game helped Miami gain a 25-23 edge. Kent State, however, rattled off seven straight points to take the second game, 30-25. A service ace by sophomore setter Anne Butts, a kill and a block assist by sophomore outside hitter Jenny Weilert and a solo block and block assist by Danielle Holt sparked the Golden Flash run.
After holding a slight, 11-9 edge in the third game, the RedHawks collected five unanswered points-sparked by two kills apiece from Zent and Slusser-to capture a 16-9 lead. Back-to-back KSU service aces by Holt pulled the Golden Flashes within four, 22-18, and Kent State would get as close as four again, 23-19, but the RedHawks went on a 7-2 run to seize the third game, 30-21. Senior setter Melinda McCormick (Kalamazoo, Mich./Loy Norrix) served up an ace, while Slusser knocked down two kills and junior outside hitter Tara Buroker (Bluffton, Ohio/Bluffton) tallied one kill down the stretch for the RedHawks.
Capped by a Zent service ace, Miami held a 13-10 lead in the fourth game until Kent State went on a 5-0 run, spurred by two kills and a block by freshman middle blocker Karry Griffin, to claim a 15-13 edge. The teams went back and forth, and a Buroker kill pulled Miami within one, 25-26. KSU outscored Miami 4-1 down the stretch to win the fourth game, 30-26.
Bolstered by a scorching .643 hitting percentage in the fifth game, Kent State collected 10 points off kills, while committing just one error in 14 attempts. Zent started the fifth set with a service ace for the RedHawks, but Miami quickly found itself trailing 6-10. A Kent State service error and a kill by Slusser closed the gap to two, 8-10. Miami would get as close as two twice more-the last time at 11-13-but a RedHawk service error and a kill by Ladurner-Schnitzer cinched the game for the Golden Flashes, 15-11.
In addition to her career-high 23 kills, which nearly doubled her previous career-best of 13 kills, Slusser knocked down five blocks and served up three aces for the RedHawks. Buroker notched 13 kills and a match-best 17 digs, while Zent added 11 kills and four service aces. McCormick tallied 45 assists.
Holt paced the Golden Flashes with 18 kills, 15 digs and six blocks. Ladurner-Schnitzer added 10 kills, while Butts tallied 45 assists.
Miami hits the road next weekend for its final two road contests of the regular-season. The RedHawks face Bowling Green on Friday, Nov. 7 and battle Central Michigan on Saturday, Nov. 8. Both matches are set for 7 p.m.
