Miami University
Michigan
RedHawks Fall to Michigan in NCAA Tournament
11/30/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 30, 2007
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - In its seventh NCAA Tournament appearance, Miami fought valiantly but fell to host Michigan, 30-16, 30-18, 30-27. The Wolverines (23-10; 10-10 Big Ten) hit .323 for the match, while Miami (20-11; 13-3 MAC) hit .115 in the contest.
Two kills by senior middle hitter Carli Reihman and a kill by senior outside hitter Jeanna Staun led the RedHawks to a 3-2 lead in game one. Miami remained close and forced four more ties until the Wolverines used two kills from Lyndsay Miller to give Michigan a five-point advantage, 15-10, heading into the media timeout. After kills by Reihman and Staun brought the RedHawks within three points, 12-15, the Wolverines rallied off seven consecutive points, giving Michigan a 22-12 lead. The Wolverines went on to win game one, 30-16.
Three kills by Reihman and a kill by sophomore middle hitter Megan Griffin paced the RedHawks early in game two as Miami led, 7-6. Michigan connected on back-to-back kills and the RedHawks re-tied it at 8-8, before the Wolverines took 11 of the next 13 points to establish a 19-10 lead. Michigan's lead reached 15 points, 28-13, but kills from sophomore middle hitter Hallie Hanks, kills from Staun and junior outside hitter Emily Schroeder allowed the RedHawks to take five of the next six points, but a kill by Miller gave Michigan a 30-18 game-two win. Reihman led the RedHawks with nine kills through two games.
A six-point Michigan spurt gave the Wolverines a 6-2 lead to start game three. Michigan's lead got as big as eight points, 20-12, before kills by Griffin and Reihman coupled with a Staun service ace and a block by Reihman and Schroeder ignited a Miami surge that brought Miami within two points, 20-22. Miami closed within one point on two different occasions, with the last occurring at 23-24, but a kill and two service aces by Michigan's Katie Bruzdzinski pushed the Wolverine lead back to five points, 28-23. A kill by Griffin, followed by two Michigan attack errors and a kill by sophomore setter Andrea Atteberry brought Miami within one point, 27-28. However, a kill by Michigan followed by a Wolverine block gave Michigan a 30-27 game-three win.
Reihman led the RedHawks with 14 kills and hit a stifling .700 in her final match. Reihman also tallied 11 digs, giving Reihman 13 kill-dig double-doubles this season. Staun finished her final match at Miami with six kills and nine digs. Junior libero Melissa Zenz led Miami with 16 digs in the match.
Bruzdzinski led Michigan with 19 kills, while Stesha Selsky posted a match-high 18 digs.
Miami finished the season with a 20-11 overall record and the match with Michigan marked the RedHawks' seventh NCAA Tournament appearance.
The Wolverines advance to face Colorado State in tomorrow night's second round match-up.
