Oct. 5, 2007
Box Score
OXFORD, Ohio -- Miami University's volleyball kept its momentum rolling with a three-game sweep (30-21, 30-25, 30-23) in Mid-American Conference action over the Buffalo Bulls, extending its winning streak to four matches, on Friday evening. Miami (7-7; 4-1 MAC) served up a season-high 11 service aces and held Buffalo (2-19; 1-4 MAC) to a .213 hitting percentage.
The Bulls and RedHawks fought neck-and-neck early in game one until back-to-back kills by junior outside hitter Alex Ratcliff gave Miami a 7-5 lead in game one. Miami kept its two-point lead in tact, 13-11, until consecutive kills through the Buffalo block by senior middle hitter Carli Reihman, a service ace at the 10-foot line by junior libero Cristina Piazza and two Buffalo attack errors extended Miami's lead to six points, 18-12. Miami's lead held steady and a kill by Reihman and another service ace by Piazza gave the RedHawks a 30-21 game-one win.
Stong play by the Bulls lifted Buffalo to an 8-4 lead in game two. A service ace and a kill down the line by senior outside hitter Jeanna Staun quickly helped the RedHawks eliminate the Buffalo lead as Miami tied the game, 10-10. Buffalo did not relinquish the lead until consecutive service aces by Ratcliff gave the RedHawks their first lead of the match, 14-13. Two kills apiece by sophomore middle hitter Megan Griffin and freshman setter Michelle Mangia moved the RedHawks ahead, 21-16. Buffalo closed its deficit to three points, 21-18, but the strong serving of Piazza proved to be too much as the RedHawks took game two, 30-25.
Buffalo looked sharp coming out of the 10-minute intermission as the Bulls collected the first four points. Miami regrouped as Griffin, Staun, Reihman and Ratcliff collected kills to put the RedHawks up two points, 7-5. Miami still held a two-point lead at 17-15, and kept the pressure on as five consecutive kills from the duo of Griffin and Reihman gave Miami some breathing room, 22-18. Three consecutive kills by sophomore middle hitter Hallie Hanks gave the RedHawks their biggest lead of the game, 28-20, leading Miami to a 30-23 game-three win.
Reihman and Griffin led Miami with 11 kills apiece and Reihman also added 10 digs, her sixth double-double of the season. Piazza and Ratcliff both tallied a career-high three service aces, while Piazza also collected a career-best 16 digs.
Claudia Neba led the Bulls with 10 kills, while Lizaiha Garcia matched Piazza with 16 digs.
Miami finishes its weekend of conference action when it hits the floor versus Akron at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6.
