Oct. 29, 2006
Box Score
OXFORD, Ohio--Miami University's volleyball team had its eight-match winning streak snapped in a three-game loss (22-30, 20-30, 26-30) to No. 22 Ohio on Sunday afternoon. The loss dropped the RedHawks to 12-13 overall and 8-4 in the Mid-American Conference as Ohio improved to 20-3 overall and 12-0 in conference play.
Three kills apiece by sophomore outside hitter Emily Schroeder and junior middle hitter Carli Reihman helped Miami construct an early 11-8 lead in the first game. Ohio closed within one off a Melissa Griffin kill, 12-11, but a quick 3-0 RedHawk surge capped by a Schroeder service ace pushed the Miami lead to 15-11. The Bobcats used a 5-0 run, spurred by an Amanda Andersen block and a kill and a service ace by Stephanie Blackburn, to post a 17-16 advantage. A junior outside hitter Jeanna Staun kill knotted the game, 17-17, and a kill by Schroeder again tied the set, 18-18, but the Bobcats went on a 12-4 run down the stretch to win the first game, 30-22. Schroeder hammered eight kills in the first game for the RedHawks.
Ohio came out and took an early 7-3 in the second game. Miami was able to close within two points three times, the last coming at 13-15 off a Reihman kill. Ohio went on a 5-0 run spurred by two Stephanie Blackburn kills to post a 20-13 advantage. The Bobcats continued to extend their lead and put the set at game point off a block by Griffin and Jane Sytsma, 29-16. Two Schroeder kills and two Ohio attack errors closed the gap to nine points, 20-29. A Griffin kill, however, iced the game for the Bobcats, 30-20.
After two Schroeder kills put the RedHawks up 2-1, Ohio took control of the game by taking 12 of the next 18 points. Miami would trail by as many as nine points, at 11-20, before making a run in game three. Two Ohio errors and a Staun kill closed the gap to six at 14-20. Miami kept fighting and climbed within three points at 21-24 before a kill by sophomore outside hitter Alex Ratcliff, a kill by Reihman and a Bobcat attack error tied the game at 24-24. Ohio rebounded as three consecutive Andersen kills lifted Ohio to a 30-26 game-three win.
For Miami, Schroeder hit .385 on her way to a match-high 19 kills while sophomore libero Melissa Zenz collected a team-best 12 digs.
Four Bobcats posted double-digit kills including Andersen's team-high 16 kills. Defensively, Michaele Blackburn amassed a match-best 24 digs.
Next week Miami entertains Bowling Green on Wednesday, Nov. 1 and Northern Illinois on Saturday, Nov. 4 in its final two home regular-season MAC tilts. Match times are 7 p.m. for both contests.
