Aug. 29, 2003

Box Score

BLACKSBURG, Va.-Despite an aggressive serving night by the RedHawks, which resulted in nine service aces, Miami University's volleyball team (0-1) fell in four games to host Virginia Tech (1-0) in its first match of the Hokie Classic, 21-30, 17-30, 30-28, 19-30. Redshirt freshman middle hitter Lauren Slusser launched four service aces in her Miami debut, while senior setter Melinda McCormick served up a career high three service aces.

Aided by a block from Slusser and sophomore outside hitter Kristen Walters and a kill by Walters, Miami opened up an early 4-2 lead in the first game. Virginia Tech came back to claim a 14-11 lead, but a pair of Hokie attack errors and back-to-back service aces by McCormick handed Miami a 15-14 edge. Senior middle hitter Susan Poll drilled a kill to pull the RedHawks within one, 19-20, but the Hokies went on a 10-2 scoring surge to claim the first game, 30-21.

The teams went back and forth through the early stages of the second game until Virginia Tech went on a crushing 14-2 run to take a 22-9 lead. With game point on the line, 14-29, Miami rattled off three straight points off a kill and a service ace from junior outside hitter Angie Zent and a kill by junior outside hitter Tara Buroker. With no room for error by the RedHawks and a 12-point deficit to overcome, a Miami service error was costly as the Hokies took the second game, 30-17.

Down by four in the third game, Miami chiseled away at its 8-12 deficit to posted a 15-14 edge, highlighted by service aces from Slusser and Buroker. Battling back and forth, no team led by more than two until Miami took a 29-25 advantage off kills by Poll, senior outside hitter Amy Pfohl and Slusser and a Buroker block. Virginia Tech closed the gap to one, 29-28, but Zent put the game away for the RedHawks with a kill.

In the fourth game, Miami owned a 9-7 edge until Virginia Tech went on a 15-5 surge which put the Hokies up 22-15. From there Virginia Tech rolled to the 30-19 Game Four win.

Buroker and Zent knocked down 10 kills apiece to lead the RedHawks. Buroker also notched 11 digs and three blocks and led the RedHawks with 13 points. Sophomore libero Suzy Wolford posted a team-high 12 digs and Slusser notched three blocks and accounted for 12 points. McCormick added five kills, 32 assists and seven digs.

Miami faces East Tennessee State at noon and Campbell at 5 p.m. on Saturday to conclude its stint in the Hokie Classic.