Oct. 5, 2006
Box Score
OXFORD, Ohio--Behind 15 service aces, Miami University's volleyball team returned home to record its second Mid-American Conference win of the season with a three-game win over the Akron Zips on Thursday evening, 30-27, 30-23, 30-23.
With the win, Miami improves to 6-12 overall and 2-3 in MAC play, while Akron drops to 7-11 overall and 1-4 in league action.
Two sophomore outside hitter Emily Schroeder service aces helped Miami to a quick 4-2 lead in the first game. Akron came back to knot the game, 4-4, and the teams went back and forth until a kill and a service ace by the Zips' Brionna Patterson handed Akron a 19-16 lead. Miami climbed back to tie the game, 22-22, and then used a 4-0 run--sparked by a junior middle hitter Carli Reihman and freshman middle/outside hitter Megan Griffin block, a solo block by Griffin and a freshman middle hitter Hallie Hanks service ace--to give the RedHawks a 26-23 edge. From there Miami went on to take the first game, 30-27.
In the second game, Miami pulled out to a 9-5 lead off a balanced attack, which included two kills by Schroeder and blocks by Griffin/Schroeder and freshman setter Andrea Atteberry/Hanks. A block by Akron's Elizabeth Martin and Molly Rutledge, kills by Rutledge and Patterson and a block by Brittany Fox and Patterson helped the Zips pull within one of the RedHawks three times, 9-10, 10-11 and 11-12. A kill by Miami's Griffin and four straight Reihman service aces lifted the RedHawks to a 17-11 lead. Miami maintained its lead and went on to take the second game, 30-23.
Akron jumped out to an early 7-6 advantage in game three until two errors by the Zips and two service aces by sophomore libero Melissa Zenz gave the RedHawks a 10-7 lead. The game remained close as both teams were tied as late as 19-19. Two more service aces by Zenz gave Miami a cushion it would not relinquish as Miami went on the win game three, 30-23.
For Miami, Schroeder tallied 10 kills, eight digs and four blocks. Reihman added eight kills, four service aces and three blocks, while Zenz amassed six service aces.
The Zips were led by Rutledge with a match-high 18 kills and six blocks, while Megan Rodriquez had a match-best 20 digs.
Miami returns to the court hosting Buffalo at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 6.
