Sept. 12, 2003
Box Score
OXFORD, Ohio-In Friday's second match of the Miami Best Western/Sycamore Inn Classic, Cincinnati (8-1) topped Miami (3-5) in three games, 30-23, 30-22, 30-26.
Cincinnati took a quick 6-1 lead in the first game and posted a nine-point edge, 17-9, off a kills by junior outside hitter Julie DuPont. Miami was able to pull within four, 15-19, with help from a kill and a block by senior outside hitter Amy Pfohl (Toledo, Ohio/St. Ursula). The Bearcats went on to post a 10-point lead, 26-16, assisted by a pair of blocks by junior middle blocker Rachel Torblaa and senior setter Laura Lauder. Miami cut the lead to eight off a service ace by redshirt freshman middle hitter Lauren Slusser (Columbus Grove, Ohio/Columbus Grove) and eventually closed the gap to five, 23-28, off two more kills by Pfohl. Cincinnati, however, iced the first game off respective kills by Lauder and DuPont, 30-23.
In the second game, Cincinnati took a commanding 13-1 lead off two service aces by sophomore outside hitter Maria Pongonis and a service ace from Torblaa. A service ace by Miami junior outside hitter Tara Buroker (Bluffton, Ohio/Bluffton) cut the UC lead to seven, 14-21. Three kills by Slusser and a kill by Buroker shrunk the gap more, 21-26. Cincinnati ended the second game with a 4-1 run to make the final score 30-22.
For the first time in the match, Miami was able to lead Cincinnati, posting 7-4 ad vantage off a service ace by junior outside hitter Angie Zent (Fort Wayne, Ind./Northrop). The Bearcats came back to knot the game, 11-11, and never looked back as they claimed the 30-26 Game Three win.
Zent paced the RedHawks with nine kills, while Buroker tallied eight kills and 13 digs. Slusser added four blocks and two service aces. For Cincinnati, DuPont notched a match-best 16 kills and five blocks, while sophomore defensive specialist Lindsey Garrison produced 14 digs. Pongonis notched four service aces for the Bearcats.
Miami Best Western/Sycamore Inn Classic Schedule
Saturday, Sept. 13
Miami vs. Eastern Kentucky, 11 a.m.
Cincinnati vs. Hofstra, 1 p.m.
Miami vs. Hofstra, 7 p.m.
