Oct. 18, 2008
YPSILANTI, Mich. - Miami University won its sixth straight match Saturday, with a hard fought three set win over Eastern Michigan (25-21, 25-21, 30-28). Miami is now 13-7 overall and 7-1 in the Mid-American Conference. The Eagles are 8-15 and 2-6 in the MAC.
Michele Metzler and Megan Griffin helped stake the RedHawks to a 10-5 lead in the first set with two kills apiece. Metzler, Hallie Hanks, Maria Leahy and Emily Schroeder each recorded kills as Miami then went on an 8-4 run to increase the lead to 18-9. Eastern fought back with an 11-5 run that closed them to within three at 20-23, but two kills from Schroeder finished it and gave the RedHawks the 25-21 set one win.
Miami created another large lead to begin the second set, as they went ahead 13-4. Junior setter Andrea Atteberry continued her strong weekend of play, as she assisted on six of the RedHawks seven kills during that run. After the Eagles pulled the score to within 10-15, kills by Metzler, Leahy and Schroeder pushed the lead back to eight at 20-12. Similar to the first set, Eastern then made a run. After Griffin scored a kill to set up match point at 24-15, Eastern went on a 6-0 run to pull within three at 21-24. Griffin then ended the Eagles hopes for the comeback with the set-winning kill off an assist from Atteberry.
Schroeder scored two kills as Miami opened up an 8-4 lead in set three. Eastern came back and tied the score at 9-9, and then went on a 10-6 run to take its largest lead of the set at 19-15. The RedHawks did not give in, as Atteberry and Metzler teamed up on two blocks to pull Miami within one at 19-20. Down 22-23, Schroeder and Hanks recorded a block to tie the score, and then Hanks put down a kill to set up match point. However, an attack error retied the set at 24. It went back and forth from there as neither team could finish the other off. Finally, with the score tied at 28, Hanks recorded a solo block, and then the Eagles were forced into an attack error to give the RedHawks the 30-28 set three win.
Atteberry led the team with a double-double, recording 46 assists and 14 digs. Schoreder had 13 kills, and Melissa Zenz was tops in digs with 22. The team hit .285 for the match, with Metzler individually leading the RedHawks with a .471 hitting percentage.
Miami returns home next weekend as it hosts Toledo on Friday, October 24 at 7 p.m. It will then host Ball State on Saturday, October 25 at 7 p.m. The RedHawks will be raising money for the fight against breast cancer during that match as part of the Dig for a Cure national fundraiser. Please visit the website address below for more information on how you can help.
Miami Dig for a Cure Information
