Oct. 16, 2004

Box Score

YPSILANTI, Mich.--After posting a resilient 30-25 win in the first game, Miami University's volleyball squad dropped three straight sets--19-30, 24-30, 26-30--at Eastern Michigan University. Miami falls to 4-13 overall and 2-6 in Mid-American Conference play, while Eastern Michigan moves to 13-7 overall and 8-1 in MAC action.

After freshman middle hitter Carli Reihman (Cincinnati, Ohio/Ursuline Academy) knocked down a kill to knot the game, 2-2, Eastern Michigan went on a 9-0 run to take an 11-2 lead. Trailing 4-13, Miami staged a 13-1 run to claim a 17-14 edge with help from a pair of Reihman kills and blocks by Reihman and freshman outside hitter Jeanna Staun (Loveland, Ohio/Ursuline Academy) and Reihman and freshman setter Caitlin Watts (Columbus, Ind./Columbus East). Miami built its lead to five, 22-17, off a block by senior outside hitter Tara Buroker (Bluffton, Ohio/Bluffton) and sophomore middle hitter Lauren Slusser (Columbus Grove, Ohio/Columbus Grove). Eastern Michigan was able to close within two twice, the last at 24-22, but Miami eventually seized the 30-25 Game One win.

In the second game, the Eagles pulled out to a 17-7 lead and never looked back. Miami was able to clse within seven, but that was as close as the RedHawks could get as Eastern Michigan took the second game, 30-19.

With help from two kills by Buroker, Miami opened up a 7-5 lead in the third game. Eastern Michigan retaliated with an 8-2 run to post a 13-9 advantage. The Eagles pushed their advantage to nine, 26-17, but a block by Slusser and Zent and a kill by Buroker helped Miami close the gap to six, 22-28. With game point on the line, the RedHawks stayed alive with kills from Slusser and redshirt freshman middle hitter Kate Norris (Indianapolis, Ind/Bishop Chatard) to move within five of the Eagles, 24-29. An EMU kill, however, ended the RedHawk spurt as the Eagles took the third game, 30-24.

In the fourth game, Miami pulled out to a 7-4 lead off a series of Eastern Michigan attack errors and a kill by Slusser. The RedHawks eventually pushed their lead to four, 12-8 will help from kills by Staun and Reihman and a block by Zent and Reihman. Eastern Michigan came back to take an 18-15 lead off a 5-0 run. A couple of Eagle miscues and a kill by Slusser helped Miami knot the game, 19-19, but Eastern Michigan again claimed the lead. Again, Miami inched its way back to tie the game, 24-24, but EMU rattled off three unanswered points to take the 28-24 edge. Miami cut the gap to two, 26-28, off an EMU service error and Buroker kill, but the Eagles took the game, 30-26.

For Miami Buroker had 18 kills and 25 digs, while Reihman added seven blocks.

The RedHawks end their three-game road stretch at Kent State on Wednesday, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. and return home for a 4 p.m. contest against Marshall on Saturday, Oct. 23.