Nov. 10, 2004
Box Score
OXFORD, Ohio--Ending a 10-match skid against the Ball State University Cardinals, dating back to the 1998 season, Miami University's volleyball team collected a four-game win against BSU on Senior Night at Millett Hall, 26-30, 30-18, 30-24 and 30-17. Miami improves to 9-15 on the season and 7-8 in Mid-American Conference play, while Ball State moves to 17-9 overall and 10-4 in MAC action.
Miami took a 10-6 lead in the first game with help from a service ace and a block by freshman middle hitter Carli Reihman (Cincinnati, Ohio/Ursuline Academy). With the RedHawks holding a 14-12 edge, Ball State went on a 4-0 surge to take a 16-14 lead. Trailing 17-15, Miami went on its own four-point run, spurred by back-to-back blocks by sophomore middle hitter Lauren Slusser (Columbus Grove, Ohio/Columbus Grove) and freshman outside hitter Jeanna Staun (Loveland, Ohio/Ursuline Academy), to post a 19-17 edge. Ball State came back with four straights points and never looked back as they captured the 30-26 Game One win.
In the second game, Miami jumped out to a quick 10-4 lead with help from back-to-back kills by Reihman. Ball State got no closer than five as Miami went on to the 30-18 win. Staun had four kills in the set for the RedHawks, while Reihman and Zent each posted three kills and hit .500 and .600, respectively, to help Miami to a .306 team hitting percentage in the set.
It was Ball State who opened up a 10-6 lead in the third game, but Miami persistently chipped away at the Cardinal advantage to knot the game, 14-14, off a service ace by freshman setter Caitlin Watts (Columbus, Ind./East). A Kelly Cochran kill and a Lauren Robbins service ace gave Ball State the 16-14 edge, but Miami scored seven unanswered points, highlighted by a block by Slusser/Staun and a pair of blocks by Slusser and redshirt freshman middle hitter Kate Norris (Indianapolis, Ind./Bishop Chatard), to post the 21-16 lead. From there, Miami went on to take the 30-24 Game Three win.
In the fourth game, Miami pulled out to a 10-3 advantage with help from two kills each by senior outside hitter Angie Zent (Fort Wayne, Ind./Northrop) and Reihman and another Watts service ace. Behind a .394 hitting percentage, Miami rolled on to the 30-17 win in the fourth game.
The RedHawks had a solid night at the net, outblocking Ball State 17.0 to 6.5 blocks per game. Four RedHawks notched four or more blocks on the night.
For Miami, Staun notched 15 kills, three service aces, four blocks and nine digs. Reihman added 13 kills and seven blocks, including two solo blocks. Slusser knocked down a career-high eight block assists, while senior outside hitter Tara Buroker (Bluffton, Ohio/Bluffton) added nine kills and 16 digs. Junior libero Suzy Wolford (Batavia, Ill./Batavia) also tallied 16 digs.
Ball State was led by Stephanie Keller, who posted a match-best 21 digs.
Miami rounds out regular-season Mid-American Conference play at Northern Illinois on Saturday, Nov. 13 at 4 p.m. (CT). The RedHawks are vying to host a MAC Tournament First Round match on Tuesday, Nov. 16.
