Sept. 13, 2003

Box Score

OXFORD, Ohio-Miami University's volleyball team (3-6) posted an impressive 30-20 win its first game against Eastern Kentucky (7-3), but the Colonels took three straight games off the RedHawks by two points apiece (31-29, 31-29, 33-31) to win Saturday's first match at the Miami Best Western/Sycamore Inn Classic.

In the first game, Eastern Kentucky took a 10-8 lead off a kill by freshman outside hitter Jessica Sabath. Miami went on a 9-3 run, highlighted by two kills and a service ace from junior outside hitter Tara Buroker (Bluffton, Ohio/Bluffton) to post a 17-13 lead. From there, Buroker collected three more kills and iced the game with a service ace en route to the 30-20 Game One triumph for the RedHawks.

Miami posted an early 7-4 lead in the second game but soon found itself trailing the Colonels, 13-16. The RedHawks collected three unanswered points, capped by a service ace from redshirt freshman middle hitter Lauren Slusser (Columbus Grove, Ohio/Columbus Grove) to even the game, 16-16. From there, it was a back and forth battle until two RedHawk miscues and a kill by Sabath handed the second game to EKU, 31-29.

In the third game, Miami found itself playing catch up throughout the set. EKU built a 27-22 lead, but a kill and a service ace by junior outside hitter Angie Zent (Fort Wayne, Ind./Northrop) helped Miami knot the game, 28-28. A RedHawk service error handed the Colonels a 29-28 edge, but a kill by sophomore outside hitter Kristen Walters (Springfield, Ohio/Shawnee) again tied the game. Sophomore middle blocker Liz Guard and junior outside hitter Lesley Aldridge teamed up on a block for EKU and Aldridge iced the game for the Colonels with a kill, 31-29.

Despite leading 27-24 late in the fourth game, Miami could not hold off the Colonels, who edged Miami 33-31 to capture the match. A kill by freshman setter Kelly Jennings and a block by Guard and freshman outside hitter Denise Grundhoefer handed the game to EKU.

For the RedHawks Walters collected a career-high 20 kills and sophomore libero Suzy Wolford (Batavia, Ill./Batavia) added a career-best 21 digs. Buroker notched 17 kills, 10 digs, two blocks and two service aces, while senior outside hitter Amy Pfohl (Toledo, Ohio/St. Ursula Academy) added a career-high 19 digs.

EKU was paced by Aldridge with 19 kills, 24 digs and three blocks. Sabath added 15 kills, 23 digs and two blocks, while Guard notched 14 kills and seven blocks.