Sept. 26, 2004
Box Score
HUNTINGTON, W. Va.--Capturing the first and fourth games, Miami University's volleyball squad battled Marshall University in a five-game match, but came up short in the fifth game to drop to 2-9 overall and 0-2 in Mid-American Conference action. Marshall improved to 7-5 overall and 1-0 in the MAC with the 25-30, 30-18, 30-26, 20-30, 15-12 win.
After holding a slight 8-7 edge in the first game, Miami went on a 12-3 run to post a 20-10 lead. Senior outside hitter Tara Buroker (Bluffton, Ohio/Bluffton) notched a pair of kills and teamed up with freshmen middle hitters Kate Norris (Indianapolis, Ind./Bishop Chatard) and Carli Reihman (Cincinnati, Ohio/Ursuline Academy) on blocks during the spurt, while sophomore outside hitter Jordan Centers (Norwalk, Ohio/St. Paul) added a pair of kills and Reihman tallied a kill and a service ace. Marshall was able to get as close as four on five occasions, the latest at 25-29, but a Thundering Herd service error handed Miami the 30-25 win in the first game.
In the second game, Marshall took a 10-5 lead and never looked back as the Thundering Herd posted a decisive 30-18 win.
Marshall quickly jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the third game, but Miami persistently chipped away at the Thundering Herd lead to pull within three points of Marshall, 18-21, with help from consecutive kills by Reihman, Buroker and senior outside hitter Angie Zent (Fort Wayne, Ind./Northrop), which forced a Marshall timeout. From there, Marshall outscored Miami 9-8 to hold onto the 30-26 win.
Kills by junior libero/setter Suzy Wolford (Batavia, Ill./Batavia) and sophomore middle hitter Lauren Slusser (Columbus Grove, Ohio/Columbus Grove) and a service ace by Buroker helped lift Miami to an 8-4 lead in the fourth game. Marshall came back to knot the game, 10-10, but Miami was eventually able to post a 20-15 lead off a service ace by junior setter Megan Clark (Solon, Ohio/Solon). A pair of kills by Zent and a service ace from freshman outside hitter Jeanna Staun (Loveland, Ohio/Ursuline Academy) pushed Miami's lead to nine, 26-17. Another Buroker kill iced the game for the RedHawks, 30-20.
Marshall scored the first three points in the fifth game, but Miami came back to tie the game, 4-4, and a pair of kills from Staun eventually handed the RedHawks a 7-5 lead. A solo block by Clark and a kill by Reihman gave Miami the 11-9 lead, but the Thundering Herd outscored Miami 6-1 down the stretch to take the match with a 15-12 Game Five win.
Buroker led the RedHawks with 16 kills, 16 digs, two service aces and five block assists. Reihman added 13 kills, three service aces, nine digs and four block assists for the RedHawks, while Clark tallied 51 assists and two solo blocks.
Marshall had five players in double figures for kills led by Kelly-Anne Billingy, who notched 30 kills, 12 digs, five service aces and three block assists to lead the Thundering Herd.
The RedHawks return home to host Bowling Green and Western Michigan on Oct. 1 and 2, respectively. Match times are 7 p.m.
