Nov. 13, 2004
Box Score
DeKALB, Ill.--In its final Mid-American Conference regular-season match, Miami University's volleyball team suffered a three-game loss at Northern Illiois University, 23-30, 28-30 and 22-30. Miami falls to 9-16 on the season and 7-9 in MAC play, while Northern Illinois improves to 13-18 overall and 8-8 in MAC action.
Whether Miami's can host a Mid-American Conference Tournament First-Round match will be determined with Saturday's later MAC matches. Who and where the RedHawks will play on Tuesday, Nov. 16 will be posted when information becomes available.
Northern Illinois used an early 5-0 run in the first game to build its lead to seven, 13-6. Miami inched its way back to within four several times early in the set, the last at 11-15 off a block by senior outside hitter Angie Zent (Fort Wayne, Ind./Northrop) and sophomore middle hitter Lauren Slusser (Columbus Grove, Ohio/Columbus Grove). NIU eventually pushed its lead to eight, 21-13, but Miami went on a 7-2 surge to pull within three, 20-23. The Maimi spurt was highlighted by blocks from Zent and freshman middle hitter Carli Reihman (Cincinnati, Ohio/Ursuline Academy) and Reihman and senior outide hitter Tara Buroker (Bluffton, Ohio/Bluffton) along with a service ace by freshman outside hitter Jeanna Staun (Loveland, Ohio/Ursuline Academy). From there, however, Miami could only muster three points to the Huskies' seven as NIU took the first game, 30-23.
The Huskies took a quick 6-1 lead in the second game. Miami pulled itself within two, 5-7, but found itself at a six-point disadvantage, 12-18. The RedHawks found their rythem and strung together nine straight points to sieze the 21-19 lead. Buroker served up two aces, while redshirt freshman middle hitter Kate Norris (Indianapolis, Ind./Bishop Chatard) knocked down two kills and teamed up on a block with Slusser during the RedHawk run. Miami eventually pushed its lead to six, 26-20. Northern Illinois, however went on a 10-2 run to capture the second game, 30-28.
In the third game, it was Miami that took the early lead, posting a 6-2 advantage with help from kills by Reihman and Buroker and a Staun service ace. NIU came back to tie things up at 7-7, 9-9, 10-10 and 11-11, before taking a 14-11 lead. Miami would get as close as one three times midway through the set, but NIU surged ahead to the 30-22 win behind a .424 team hitting percentage in the third set.
For Miami, Staun tallied 11 kills, while Buroker added 10 kills and three service aces. Slusser and Zent each had four blocks.
