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Nov. 24, 2007

Box Score

OXFORD, Ohio - Miami University's volleyball team rallied to win game two, but the No. 15 Dayton Flyers came back to win games three and four to defeat the RedHawks in the championship game of the MAC/A-10 Challenge on Saturday afternoon. Miami (20-10; 13-3 MAC) and Dayton (32-1; 12-1 A-10) both will be heading to the NCAA Tournament, which begins Thursday, Nov. 29.

Three consecutive attack errors by the RedHawks put Miami in a five-point hole, 2-7, in game one. Miami could not close within five points for the rest of the game and Dayton took the first game, 30-18. The Flyers kept the RedHawks offense in check as Dayton collected five blocks in the first game.

A kill apiece from junior outside hitter Alex Ratlciff, senior middle hitter Carli Reihman and freshman middle hitter Michele Metzler combined with four Dayton attack errors put the RedHawks in front, 7-1, in game two. Two more attack errors by Dayton gave Miami its biggest lead of the game, 10-2. Dayton slowly crept back in the game and eventually closed within two points, 18-20, before a kill by Ratcliff and a kill by sophomore middle hitter Megan Griffin extended the Miami lead back to four points, 22-18. Dayton climbed back within two points, 25-27, but a kill by Reihman sandwiched in between two Dayton attack errors gave Miami a 30-25 game two win.

Dayton controlled game three and took nine of 11 points in one stretch to take a 14-point lead, 22-8. Miami regrouped to take six of the next seven points, but the Flyers took the third game, 30-19.

Both teams went point-for-point until a kill by Metzler and a service ace by Ratcliff put Miami ahead 14-12. Dayton rallied back to tie the game at 17-17, until the Flyers used a service ace, a Miami attack error and a kill to capture a three-point lead, 20-17. Back-to-back kills by senior outside hitter Jeanna Staun and Ratcliff brought Miami within one point, 21-22, but that would be as close as the RedHawks got as the Flyers won game four and the match, 30-26.

Ratcliff was the only RedHawk who collected double-digit kills with 15, while junior libero Melissa Zenz collected a team-high 20 digs.

Lindsay Fletemier hit .680 en route to 18 kills and Adrienne Green tallied 30 digs.

For Dayton, Fletemier earned Tournament MVP honors and Erin Schroeder and Bethany Akerhielm were named to the all-tournament team. For Miami, Reihman and Zenz were named to the all-tournament team. Xavier's Jill Quayle and Western Michigan's Michelle Moore rounded out the all-tournament team.

Miami now heads to the NCAA Tournament, which begins Nov. 29. The RedHawks are inviting the public to join them in watching the selection show live at 8 p.m. in the Gross Center Multi-Purpose room. The gathering begins at 7:30 p.m. and refreshments and desserts will be served.