Miami University
Colorado State University
RedHawks Drop Heartbreaker to Rams
9/8/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 8, 2007
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Miami University's volleyball team put up a valiant effort, but fell just short in its opening match of the Hilton Classic against tournament host Colorado State. Miami (2-4) was one-point away from victory, but Colorado State (4-3) rallied to win games four and five to earn the win.
The RedHawks battled with the Rams in the first game until two errors and a kill by Mekana Barnes gave Colorado State a 12-8 advantage. After a kill by junior outside hitter Alex Ratcliff made the score 11-17, Colorado State rallied off seven consecutive points, giving the Rams a 24-11 cushion. Colorado State went on to win game one 30-16.
With game two tied at 8-8, a block assist from junior outside hitter Emily Schroeder and freshman middle hitter Michele Metzler and a kill by Schroeder gave the RedHawks a 10-8 lead. Back-to-back kills by senior middle hitter Carli Reihman and Schroeder gave the RedHawks a 15-12 lead, but the Rams battled back to eventually tie the game at 17-17. Colorado State took a 22-20 lead, until kills by Reihman and Schroeder knotted the game at 22-22. The game remained tied as late as 28-28 before a kill by Reihman and a ball-handling error by Colorado State gave the RedHawks a 30-28 game-two win. Schroeder collected eight kills in game two.
Colorado State jumped out to a 9-6 lead in the third game, but four straight points thanks to strong serving from sophomore setter Andrea Atteberry elevated Miami to a 10-9 lead. Miami trailed 18-20 until it scored on six-consecutive points, taking a 24-20 advantage. Behind Jamie Strauss, the Rams took five of the next six points to tie the game at 25-25. Despite a Colorado State run that tied the game, 28-28, a kill by senior outside hitter Jeanna Staun and a Colorado State attack error gave the RedHawks a hard-earned 30-28 game-three win.
Trailing 6-10 in game four, Miami went on a five-point spurt, taking an 11-10 lead. Two kills by Ratcliff and a kill by Metzler pushed the RedHawks to a 19-15 lead, but Colorado State retaliated to knot the game at 20-20. Miami resisted every Colorado State run, until the Rams took a 28-27 lead. Two Colorado State errors put the RedHawks one-point away from victory, but three straight kills, two by Strauss, gave the Rams a 31-29 win.
Miami started game five slow as Colorado State took a 6-3 lead. The RedHawks closed to a one-point deficit, 7-8, off a Ratcliff kill, but the Rams collected the next five points taking a 13-7 lead. Miami bounced back for three quick points, but ultimately fell short as Colorado State took game five 15-10.
Schroeder led Miami with 17 kills, while junior libero Melissa Zenz collected a team-high 20 digs. Along with her 17 kills, Schroeder notched 13 digs, her second double-double of the season.
Mekana Barnes led the Rams with 20 kills.
Miami plays Winthrop tomorrow at 11 a.m. (MT) before concluding the Hilton Classic versus Colorado at 5 p.m. (MT)
