Oct. 17, 2008
Final Stats
MT. PLEASANT, Mich. - The battle of Mid-American Conference division leaders went to the RedHawks Friday, as Miami defeated Central Michigan 3-1 (27-25, 22-25, 25-23, 25-22). The RedHawks won their fifth straight match, as they improved to 12-7 overall and 6-1 in the MAC. The Chippewas are 12-8 and 6-2 in the MAC.
On the second point of the fourth set, junior setter Andrea Atteberry assisted on a kill by Hallie Hanks. That was the 3,000th assist of her career, as she became only the fifth RedHawk to reach that mark.
Central Michigan started the first set on a run as they built a 6-1 lead. The Chippewas continued to grow that lead as they pushed it to as high as seven at 16-9. Miami went on an 8-4 run keyed by three kills from Megan Griffin to pull with three at 17-20. After a service error, the RedHawks forced Central into four straight attack errors, and took their first lead of the set at 22-21. The teams traded points until the score was tied at 25. The Chippewas recorded a service error to create match point, and Miami forced them into an attack error to take set one, 27-25.
The second set went the opposite of the first, as Miami was the team to jump to the 10-5 lead. Griffin, Michele Metzler, Emily Schroeder and Maria Leahy each scored kills during that run. The RedHawks went cold, as Central went on a 15-5 run to take a 20-15 lead. Miami did not give in, as three kills from Leahy helped pull it to within two at 21-23, but the Chippewas were able to close out the set with a 25-23 win.
Set three was back-and-forth throughout as neither team could build a significant lead. With the score tied at 14, the RedHawks went on a 5-2 run off kills from Atteberry and Schroeder. Central retied the score at 23 with a 7-4 run of its own. Schroeder than finished off the set for Miami with back-to-back kills, scoring the RedHawks a 25-23 win.
While setting her record, Atteberry took over during the fourth set as she assisted on 16 of the RedHawks' 18 kills. Miami jumped to an 8-4 lead, before a 16-8 run gave the Chippewas a 20-16 advantage. Leahy and Griffin each recorded kills off Atteberry assists to pull the RedHawks within one at 20-21. With the score 22-21 in favor of Miami, Leahy recorded three kills in four points to close out the set, 25-22, and give Miami the victory. Atteberry assisted on all three of those kills.
Atteberry recorded 53 assists on the night, and now stands at 3,014 career assists. Leahy and Griffin each had 13 kills, while Hallie Hanks was right behind them with 12. Melissa Zenz led the team with 19 digs.
Miami returns to action Saturday when it travels to Eastern Michigan for a Saturday match.
