Oct. 23, 2004

Box Score

OXFORD, Ohio--After winning the first two games 30-21 and 30-24, Miami University's volleyball team dropped the next two--28-30 and 29-31--to push its match against Marshall to a fifth game. Despite the setback in the third and fourth games, Miami pulled out the 15-9 win in the fifth game to improve to 6-13 on the season and 4-6 in Mid-American Conference play. Marshall drops to 14-8 overall and 5-3 in MAC play.

After battling back and forth with the Thundering Herd in the first game and owning just a slight 15-14 edge, the RedHawks went on a 4-0 run off kills by senior outside hitter Tara Buroker (Bluffton, Ohio/Bluffton) and redshirt freshman middle hitter Kate Norris (Indianapoilis, Ind./Bishop Chatard) and a block by Norris and freshman middle hitter Carli Reihman (Cincinnati, Ohio/Ursuline Academy). Miami continued to build its lead and another kill by Buroker and a service ace by freshman libero Sydney Antonio (Holland, Ohio/St. Ursula Academy) iced the first game for the RedHawks, 30-21. Miami had five blocks in the set of which Reihman knocked down a solo block and assisted on three other blocks.

In the second game, Miami found itself trailing early, 7-10, but the RedHawks went on a 10-1 run to capture a 17-11 lead. Freshman outside hitter Jeanna Staun (Loveland, Ohio/Ursuline Academy) had two service aces and senior outside hitter Angie Zent (Fort Wayne, Ind./Northrop) had three kills during the spurt. Miami pushed its lead to eight, 24-16, off a service ace by junior setter Suzy Wolford (Batavia, Ill./Batavia). From there, Miami went on to take the second game, 30-24.

Miami put the first two points on the board in the third game, but Marshall retaliated, notching six straight points to post a 6-2 lead. With the Thundering Herd leading 9-5, Miami came back to knot the game, 9-9, with help from a pair of kills by Buroker. Again, Marshall took the lead, 12-9, but Miami strung together eight unanswered points to take the 17-12 lead with help from two kills apiece by Reihman and Norris. Miami was able to push its lead to seven, 20-13. Holding a 24-18 lead, Miami saw its advantage quickly shrink to two 24-22. Mashall came back to knot the game 27-27. A kill by Norris put Miami up 28-27, but Marshall scored three straight points to take the third game, 30-28.

The fourth game was a back and forth battle throughout much of the stanza. Marshall held a 25-23 edge, but was able to push its advantage to 27-23. Miami came back to take a 29-28 lead, but a Miami service error and two ball handling errors gave Marshall the fourth game, 31-29.

In the fifth game, Miami took a commanding 8-3 lead. Marshall came back within three, 11-8, however the RedHawks went on to take the match with a 15-9 Game Five win.

For Miami, Reihman tallied 12 kills, 12 blocks and nine digs. Norris and Zent led the RedHawks with 14 kills apiece, while Staun collected 11 kills and a match-high 18 digs and Buroker added 10 kills, 12 digs and four service aces

For Marshall, Kelly-Anne Billingy had a match-high 27 kills and added 10 digs and five blocks.

Miami continues a three-match homestand, hosting Ohio on Friday, Oct. 29 and Central Michigan on Saturday, Oct. 30. Match time for both contests is 7 p.m.