Sept. 22, 2007

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Miami University's volleyball team concluded its opening weekend of Mid-American Conference action with a thrilling five-game victory over Western Michigan. Miami (4-7; 1-1 MAC) improved to 3-2 in five-game matches this season, while Western Michigan (9-6; 1-1MAC) dropped its first five-game match of the season.

Trailing 5-6 in the first game, a kill and a service ace by senior middle hitter Carli Reihman, a kill by junior outside hitter Emily Schroeder and a Western Michigan error elevated the RedHawks to a three-point lead, 9-6. The Broncos tied the game, 10-10, and the game remained tied, 17-17, until a Katie Eberling kill sandwiched between two Miami errors put the Broncos up three points, 20-17. Facing a two-point deficit, 24-26, consecutive kills by Reihman and a bad set by the Broncos put the RedHawks up 27-26. Tied at 29-29, the Broncos used a kill by Eberling and a Miami error to win game one, 31-29.

Three kills by Western Michigan's Michelle Moore helped the Broncos take a 4-1 lead in game two. After a bad set by Miami put the RedHawks down two points, 5-7, a kill by Reihman, two kills by Schroeder, and a kill down the line by senior outside hitter Jeanna Staun moved the RedHawks up three points, 10-7. Western Michigan tied the game at 12-12, but a kill by junior outside hitter Alex Ratcliff and three Bronco errors put the RedHawks up 16-12. Miami rode that momentum to take its largest lead of the game, 24-15. From that point, the RedHawks cruised to a 30-24 game-two win.

Miami found itself in a six-point hole at the start of the third game, 3-9. Western Michigan maintained at least a four-point lead throughout the game, until two errors by the Broncos brought the RedHawks within three points, 26-29, but a kill by Moore gave the RedHawks a game-three win.

Neither team could garner a lead larger than three points as there were 15 ties in game four. Tied at 20-20, three kills by Staun ignited a RedHawk rally as Miami took a three-point cushion, 24-21. Western Michigan closed within one point on two different occasions, with the last occurring at 29-28, but a Bronco attack error gave the RedHawks a 30-28 win and forced a fifth game.

Tied at 6-6 in game five, kills by Schroeder and Staun and two consecutive Bronco errors extended Miami's lead to four points, 10-6. Western Michigan closed to within three points, 12-9, but the RedHawks were determined to win the fifth game as a kill by Schroeder broke a mini Bronco rally and a kill by freshman middle hitter Michele Metzler iced the game, giving the RedHawks a 15-10 victory in game five.

Staun led the RedHawks with 16 kills, while posting a career-high seven block assists. As a team, the RedHawks collected a season-high 14 total blocks. Reihman and Schroeder notched double-doubles in the victory and junior libero Melissa Zenz notched a team-high 22 digs.

Moore put down a match-high 28 kills, while Caitlin Strimel corralled a match-best 25 digs.

The RedHawks continue MAC action next weekend as Miami travels to No. 19 Ohio and Kent State. Miami plays Ohio at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 28, before playing Kent State at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29.