Nov. 2, 2007
Box Score
OXFORD, Ohio - Behind a career-high tying 21 kills by junior outside hitter Alex Ratcliff and an all-around defensive effort, Miami University's volleyball team swept the Kent State Golden Flashes in Mid-American Conference action on Friday night. Miami (14-8; 11-2 MAC) out-dug Kent State (19-7; 10-3 MAC) 60 to 44.
Two kills by freshman middle hitter Michele Metzler, a kill by senior middle hitter Carli Reihman and a block by Metzler and senior outside hitter Jeanna Staun put the RedHawks ahead 8-2 to start game one. Still up six points, 16-10, kills from sophomore setter Andrea Atteberry and sophomore middle hitter Megan Griffin and a Kent State attack error put Miami up nine points, 19-10, forcing a Kent State timeout. After Kent State cut Miami's lead to four points, 28-24, consecutive kills by junior outside hitter Emily Schroeder gave the RedHawks a game-one win, 30-24.
After trailing by four points, 7-3, in game two, the RedHawks rallied as two kills by Metzler, a kill by Schroeder and a Golden Flashes attack error gave the RedHawks their first lead of the game, 12-11. After Kent State regained a one-point lead, 14-15, two kills by Schroeder and a kill apiece by Griffin and Metzler gave Miami its biggest lead of the match to that point, 18-15. Miami remained ahead by three points, 29-26, until a kill by Griffin gave Miami a 30-26 win. Through the first two games, junior outside hitter Alex Ratcliff led the RedHawks with 12 kills, while Metzler hit .833 en route to 10 kills over the first two games.
Kent State came out of the 10-minute intermission strong, taking a 9-6 lead due to a few Miami miscues. Four kills by Ratcliff and a kill by Reihman pushed the RedHawks in front, 12-10. A Kent State error followed by a service ace by Reihman gave Miami a four-point cushion, 15-11. Despite holding a two-point lead, 18-16, a Kent State rally put Miami in a two-point hole, 19-21. From that point, the RedHawks took control by taking 11 of the next 13 points to win game three, 30-23.
Ratcliff finished the match with a career-high tying 21 kills, including nine kills in game three, while Metzler finished with 13 kills and hit .867 for the match.
Ashley Feutz and Anja Knabe-Paulsen led Kent State with 11 kills apiece.
Miami returns to the floor tomorrow for a 7 p.m. showdown with No. 16 Ohio. The Bobcats stood one game ahead of the RedHawks in the MAC East standings heading into the weekend. Seniors Carli Reihman and Jeanna Staun will be honored as a part of Senior Night.
