Volleyball Team Hits the Road for Two-Game Trip
 
Miami Will Face Buffalo on Friday and Akron on Saturday

 

Oct. 8, 2008

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OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami University volleyball team hits the road for its first two-game Mid-American Conference trip of the season this weekend. The RedHawks will travel to Buffalo on Friday to face the Bulls at 7 p.m. The will then take on Akron in a Saturday afternoon matinee at 3 p.m.

STORYLINES

1. THE DIVISION RACE: Miami has taken over first place in the Mid-American Conference East Division race at 3-1. The RedHawks have three teams on their heels at 2-2 in Ohio, Kent State and Bowling Green. However, Miami already owns a victory over all three schools this season. It has been very competitive in the MAC so far this season as all 12 teams have suffered at least one defeat during the first two weekends of competition. Western Michigan, Central Michigan and Ball State are tied for the West Division lead at 3-1.

2. KEEPING UP APPEARANCES: After a wildly successful weekend at home, in which Miami swept both Kent State and Ohio, the RedHawks look to continue the momentum on the road when they travel to both Buffalo and Akron. This is the first two-game MAC road trip of the season for Miami, but it comes against two schools that they have had recent success against. The RedHawks have not lost to either the Bulls or Zips since the 2004 season.

3. WHO WILL STEP UP THIS WEEK?: Last week Megan Griffin won the MAC East Division Player of the Week honors after recording 18 kills and hitting .643 for the week. Each week a different RedHawk has stepped up and led the team for the week, sometimes it is Emily Schroeder, sometimes it is Andrea Atteberry and sometimes it is someone else. For Miami to continue its recent run of success someone will need to continue that trend, the question is who will it be?

ABOUT BUFFALO: The Bulls are 5-13 overall this season and 0-4 in the MAC. They have shown signs of improvement after a 2-31 season a year ago. Last weekend they fell 3-0 to Akron and 3-1 to Ball State. Buffalo is led by sophomore setter Lindsey Schlegel. She has 544 assists and 21 service aces on the season.

THE SERIES AGAINST THE BULLS: Miami leads the all-time series 16-2. Last season, the RedHawks defeated the Bulls 3-0 at home, and took a 3-1 decision in Buffalo. Miami has won the last seven matches in the series.

ABOUT AKRON: Akron is 7-8 overall and 1-3 in the MAC. It defeated Buffalo last weekend, and then fell 3-1 at home against Toledo. The Zips setter Kara Smith has been a strong highlight this season. She has 595 assists, an average of 10.82 per set.

THE SERIES AGAINST THE ZIPS: The RedHawks have a 27-11 all-time series lead against Akron. They earned two victories against the Zips last season. Overall, Miami has won the last seven matches against the Zips.


 

 

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