Miami Ohio University Athletics
Miami University
Winthrop University
RedHawks Soar Past Eagles in Five Games
9/8/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 8, 2007
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - After dropping a five-game heartbreaker to the Colorado State Rams in its opener of the Hilton Classic last night, Miami University's volleyball team regrouped and earned a hard-fought five-game victory over Winthrop in its second round tilt of the tournament. Miami (3-4) moved to 1-1 for the tournament, while Winthrop (1-7) fell to 0-2.
Two kills apiece by junior outside hitter Alex Ratcliff, senior middle hitter Carli Reihman and sophomore middle hitter Megan Griffin ignited the RedHawks offense as Miami took a 10-7 lead in game one. Winthrop battled back to knot the game at 18-18, but could not capture a lead as a block assist by freshman middle hitter Michele Metzler and Griffin moved the RedHawks up one point, 19-18. With the one-point lead in tact at 22-21, the RedHawks connected on six consecutive points, allowing the RedHawks to take a 30-23 win.
Strong play from Winthrop allowed the Eagles to take a 6-3 lead in game two. Miami rallied to tie the score at 9-9 and took its first lead of the game, 10-9, off a kill by senior outside hitter Jeanna Staun. From that point, seven ties ensued, with the last occurring at 23-23, before Winthrop won the next six points taking a 29-23 lead. Miami closed within three points, 26-29, but the RedHawks dropped game two, 26-30.
Winthrop controlled the early stages of game three, until two kills by Griffin and a block by Griffin and freshman setter Michelle Mangia guided the RedHawks to a 14-13 lead. Three points later, Miami began a six-point spurt that was capped off by a service ace by junior libero Melissa Zenz, giving Miami 20-14 lead. Winthrop regained the momentum and tied the game at 25-25. Another service ace by Zenz put the RedHawks up 27-25, and that two-point advantage held as the RedHawks won game three, 30-28.
Trailing 5-3 in game four, the RedHawks used strong defense and kills from Staun and Metzler to take a 9-8 lead. Winthrop extended its lead to four, 20-16, before kills by Ratcliff and Reihman sparked a RedHawk run to close within one point, 21-22. The RedHawks battled to tie the game five times, with the last being at 31-31, but the Eagles pulled out a 33-31 win.
Miami struggled as it trailed 6-8 halfway through the fifth game. As the teams switched sides, Miami used kills by Staun, Metzler and Ratcliff to overtake the Eagles 10-8. With the score in Miami's favor, 13-11, two consecutive Winthrop errors cemented a 15-11 RedHawk victory.
Ratcliff led the RedHawks with a season-high 19 kills. Reihman collected a double-double with 15 kills and 13 digs and Staun notched a double-double with 12 kills and 13 digs. Zenz led the RedHawks with 21 digs.
In her first collegiate start, Mangia had a solid overall game with a team-high 44 assists, six kills, eight digs, and two block assists. Mangia also hit .750 for the contest.
Shannon Sitzman led the Eagles with 22 kills.
Miami concludes the Hilton Classic tonight at 7 p.m. (MT) versus Colorado.
