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Sept. 25, 2007
ABOUT THE BOBCATS: Ohio enters the weekend with a 10-3 overall record and a 2-0 Mid-American Conference record. In their opening weekend of conference action, the Bobcats swept Akron and Buffalo, extending their MAC winning streak to 52 matches. Ohio has faced five teams that were either ranked or receiving votes in the Sept. 17 AVCA Coaches Poll and the Bobcats boast a 3-2 record against those teams. Ellen Herman averages a team-high 4.76 kpg and has been named MAC East Division Player of the Week twice this season. Melissa Griffin, this week's MAC East Division Player of the Week and AVCA National Player of the Week, hits a team-best .317 and averages 3.48 kpg. Defensively, Stephanie Blakburn leads Ohio averaging 3.36 digs per game.
THE SERIES WITH OHIO: Miami holds a 40-17 edge in the all-time series, but Ohio has won 11 consecutive matches versus the RedHawks. The RedHawks are 14-8 when playing in Athens, however, the last Miami win in Athens was on Oct. 4, 1998. Miami's last win in the series occurred on Oct. 5, 2001.
ABOUT THE GOLDEN FLASHES: After a 13-16 record a year ago, Kent State heads into the second week of MAC play two wins shy of last year's total, with an 11-4 overall record and a 2-0 MAC record. Anja Knabe-Paulsen leads the Kent State offense averaging 3.91 kills per game, followed by Lauren Jones, who averages 3.45 kpg. Laura Jensen averages 5.62 digs per game to anchor the Kent State back row.
THE SERIES WITH KENT STATE: The RedHawks have won four consecutive matches over the Golden Flashes and Miami owns a 46-11 lead in the all-time series. Miami defeated Kent State in three games during their first meeting last season and in the final regular-season matchup, the RedHawks beat the Golden Flashes to clinch a bye in the first round of the MAC Tournament.
REDHAWKS HITS THE ROAD FOR OHIO AND KENT STATE: The RedHawks travel to Athens, Ohio to play No. 17 Ohio at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 28. Miami is in search of its first win since 2001 over the Bobcats. Ohio is on a 52-match MAC winning streak and since 2005, only two MAC teams have taken Ohio to five games; Miami (2005) and Bowling Green (2006). After the RedHawks battle Ohio, they will travel to Kent, Ohio to play Kent State at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29.
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THE RACE IS ON: Heading into this weekend's matches versus No. 17 Ohio and Kent State, junior outside hitter Emily Schroeder and senior outside hitter Jeanna Staun are looking to become the 16th and 17th Miami players to reach 1,000 kills for a career. Schroeder and Staun are separated by one kill (Schroeder: 984; Staun: 983).
WEEKEND IN REVIEW: The beginning of Miami's conference schedule is arguably one of the toughest in the conference as the RedHawks opened with Bowling Green, who was projected to finish second in the MAC East, then Western Michigan, who was picked to win the MAC West, before traveling to No. 17 Ohio, who has put up three consecutive undefeated MAC regular seasons. Miami and Bowling Green went back-and-forth throughout the match as the Falcons took games one and three, while the RedHawks took games two and four. The score was tied early in the fifth game, but a four-point Bowling Green rally put the Falcons in control and Bowling Green won game five, and the match, 15-9. Freshman middle hitter Michele Metzler led the RedHawks with 17 kills, while sophomore libero Melissa Zenz collected a team-high 21 digs. Miami forced another game five versus Western Michigan on Saturday, but the RedHawks were determined to come out with a win. The RedHawks used two three-point spurts to take a comfortable lead and Miami won game five 15-10. Senior outside hitter Jeanna Staun led the RedHawks with 16 kills and set a career-high with seven block assists.
FRESH STARTS: Three of Miami's newcomers have seen significant playing time in their first collegiate season. Freshman middle hitter Michele Metzler has played in all 11 matches for the RedHawks this season, starting nine of those matches. Metzler averages 1.93 kpg, and currently ranks fourth in the MAC in hitting percentage (.315). After playing in just one game before the Hilton Classic in Fort Collins, Colo., freshman setter Michelle Mangia earned her first start versus Winthrop on Sept. 8 and started the next two matches versus Colorado and Morehead State. Mangia had a season-high 45 assists against Winthrop and added six kills, eight digs and two block assists. Freshman libero Jillian Johns earned the first start of her career at Morehead State on Tuesday, Sept. 12. Johns has played in five matches this season and averages 0.91 dpg.
ATTEBERRY AND SCHROEDER EARN ALL-TOURNAMENT HONORS: Sophomore setter Andrea Atteberry and junior outside hitter Emily Schroeder earned All-Tournament honors after the RedHawks finished in second place in the Miami Classic on Sept. 1. Atteberry set a career-high with 68 assists in a five-game win over Wake Forest and averaged 12.83 assists per game over the weekend. Schroeder put down a season-high 20 kills versus Wake Forest and added 16 kills in a win over Pittsburgh. For the weekend, Schroeder averaged 3.67 kills per game and 2.08 digs per game.
REIHMAN BECOMES 15th MEMBER OF 1,000 KILLS CLUB: With 11 kills against Valparaiso in the first match of the 2006 Miami Thanksgiving Tournament, senior middle hitter Carli Reihman became the 15th Miami player to reach 1,000 career kills. Reihman finished the year with 1,013 kills, currently ranking 14th in school history.
MAC-ing it: Through Sept. 22, Miami has five players that rank among Mid-American Conference leaders in overall matches played and conference matches;
Andrea Atteberry -- Assists; 10.91/12.00 (5th/4th MAC)
Michele Metzler -- Hitting Percentage; .315 (4th)
Jeanna Staun -- Hitting Percentage; .350 (8th/MAC)
Melissa Zenz -- Digs; 4.29/5.33 (10th/4th MAC)
Emily Schroeder -- Blocks; 1.20 (8th MAC)
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