Miami Ohio University Athletics
Miami University
University of Colorado
RedHawks Drop Hilton Classic Finale to Buffaloes
9/8/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 8, 2007
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Miami University's volleyball team fell to the University of Colorado in three games in its finale of the Hilton Classic Saturday evening. Miami (3-5) ended the tournament with a 1-2 record, while Colorado (5-3) finished the tournament with a 2-1 record.
Game one went back-and-forth from the beginning as neither team could garner a lead of more than two points. With the RedHawks trailing 15-17, a kill by senior outside hitter Jeanna Staun coupled with two Colorado errors gave Miami its first lead of the game, 18-17. A kill by Colorado tied the game, 20-20, but the Buffaloes took 10 of the next 11 points to win game one 30-21.
In the second game, kills by freshman middle hitter Michele Metzler and sophomore middle hitter Megan Griffin helped the RedHawks take a 4-1 lead. A series of Miami errors aided a Colorado spurt as the Buffaloes moved ahead 10-7. Holding on to a two-point advantage, 14-12, consecutive kills by Mallori Gibson, sandwiched between two Miami errors, increased the Buffalo lead to 18-12. Two kills by Griffin, a kill by senior middle hitter Carli Reihman and a block by Reihman and Staun ignited a RedHawk comeback as Miami closed within one point, 18-19. Colorado retaliated with a five-point rally of its own to re-gain a six-point lead, 24-18. Miami's deficit remained six points, 20-26, until kills by junior outside hitter Emily Schroeder and Metzler and a service ace by Staun brought the RedHawks within two points, 24-26. Two Miami errors pushed the Colorado margin to four points, and the Buffaloes won game two, 30-26.
Five RedHawk errors in the first 12 points of game three put Miami in a hole as the Buffaloes took a 10-2 lead. Two blocks from the blocking duo of sophomore middle hitter Hallie Hanks and Staun, along with three kills from Schroeder, brought the RedHawks with five points, 16-11, but the RedHawks could not get any closer as Colorado took game three, and the match, 30-14.
Staun led the RedHawks with 10 kills, while junior libero Melissa Zenz had a team-high 11 digs.
Gibson posted a match-high 13 kills and Callie Webster notched 17 digs for the Buffaloes.
Miami hits the road for a weekday contest at Morehead State on Wednesday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m., before opening up Mid-American Conference action at home versus Bowling Green on Thursday, Sept. 22.
