Sept. 20, 2003
Box Score
CHICAGO-Miami University's volleyball team ended its stint at the DePaul Invitational on a good note, sweeping IUPUI, 31-29, 30-19 and 30-27. The RedHawks improve to 6-8 overall, while the Jaguars drop to 4-7.
Trailing 23-27 in the first game, Miami persevered and battled its way back into the game. A kill by sophomore middle hitter Natalie Kapteyn and a pair of kills from freshman outside hitter Jordan Centers tied the game, 29-29. IUPUI miscued on an attack and sophomore outside hitter Kristen Walters connected for a kill to cinch the game for the RedHawks, 31-29.
Back-to-back kills by redshirt freshman Lauren Slusser, a trio of Centers service aces and a block by Slusser and senior setter Melinda McCormick catapulted Miami from a 1-2 deficit to an 8-2 advantage in the second game. IUPUI crept back within two, 7-9, off two kills and a service ace. With a four-point cushion, 14-10, Miami rattled off five unanswered points, sparked by a kill from senior outside hitter Amy Pfohl and a Slusser/McCormick block, to increase its advantage, 19-10. Eventually, Miami posted a 13-point edge, 29-16, aided by a kill, a service ace and a block by Angie Zent. IUPUI staved off the RedHawks with a kill and two service aces, but Pfohl drilled a kill to give Miami the 30-19 win.
Quickly IUPUI captured an 8-3 lead in the third game. A 7-0 run aided by a Kapteyn service ace and kill lifted Miami to a 13-10 advantage. With two Slusser kills, Miami was able to up its lead to four, 24-20. The Jaguars pulled within one twice late in the game, 26-25 and 28-27, but back-to-back kills by Pfohl iced the game for the RedHawks, 30-27.
For Miami, Slusser knocked down 13 kills and four blocks and posted a .524 hitting percentage. Zent tallied 14 kills, two service aces and a .407 hitting percentage, while McCormick added 23 assists and four blocks. Centers tallied four service aces.
Zent and sophomore libero Suzy Wolford were named to the all-tournament team.
The RedHawks open Mid-American Conference play at home next weekend, hosting Toledo (Sept. 26) and Northern Illinois (Sept. 27). Both matches start at 7 p.m.
