Nov. 18, 2007

Final Stats

TOLEDO, Ohio - Miami University's volleyball team did what only what one other team in the country has done this season. Miami (19-8; 13-3 MAC) defeated No. 15 Ohio (25-5; 15-1 MAC) in three games in the championship of the Mid-American Conference Tournament on Sunday afternoon, becoming only the second team to defeat No. 15 Ohio in three games. No. 4 Stanford is the only other team to defeat the Bobcats in three games. The RedHawks earned their first MAC Tournament title and NCAA Tournament bid since 1998. Senior Jeanna Staun and junior Alex Ratcliff earned MAC All-Tournament Honors, while senior Carli Reihman was named MAC Tournament MVP.

Miami jumped out of the gates in game one and took an early 6-4 lead off of two kills by Reihman, a kill by Ratcliff and a block assist by Reihman and Ratcliff. Kills by Ratcliff and sophomore middle hitter Megan Griffin ignited a mini RedHawk run, giving Miami a 10-5 lead. Kills by Reihman, Griffin and junior outside hitter Emily Schroeder extended Miami's lead to an eight-point lead, 15-7. Trailing by seven points, 12-19, Ohio took the next three points to cut its deficit to four, 15-19, forcing a Miami timeout. Ohio kept pushing and consecutive kills by Ellen Herman and Stephanie Blackburn brought the Bobcats within one point, 24-25. Three ties ensued, with the last occurring at 28-28, before a Ohio service error and a kill by Reihman through the seam of the Ohio defense gave Miami a hard-fought 30-28 game-one win.

Five kills by Ratcliff and two kills by Griffin paced the RedHawks at the start of the second game and led Miami to a 15-12 advantage. Still up two points, 18-16, kills by Reihman and Ratcliff gave the RedHawks a 20-16 lead. After a kill by Herman brought Ohio within one point, 25-26, a kill by Ratcliff, a block by Ratcliff and Reihman and a kill by freshman middle hitter Michele Metzler ceiled a 30-26 game-two win. Ratcliff connected on eight kills in game two for Miami.

Miami's experience played a large role at the start of game three. After Ohio took the first two points, Reihman responded with a kill and a solo block and a service ace by Schroeder and a kill by Ratcliff pushed Miami ahead, 8-3. Ohio slowly pulled back even with the RedHawks as a series of Miami miscues tied the game, 18-18. Still tied 20-20, a service ace by sophomore setter Andrea Atteberry and two kills by Reihman lifted Miami to a three-point lead, 24-21. Ahead 28-27, Schroeder connected on consecutive kills giving Miami its first MAC Championship since 1998.

Ratcliff finished with a match-high 15 kills, while Reihman posted 12 kills and 10 digs. Reihman's 10 digs moved her past 1,000 kills for her career, making her the eighth Miami player to achieve 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs for her career.

For the RedHawks, Ratcliff and Staun were named to the MAC All-Tournament Team, while Reihman was named the MAC Tournament MVP.

Miami earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament, which starts Nov. 29. Prior to the NCAA Tournament, Miami hosts the MAC/A-10 challenge Nov. 23-24. Dayton and Western Michigan open the tournament at 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 23, before Xavier and Miami square off at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 24, Xavier and Western Michigan play at 2 p.m. before Miami and Dayton play at 4 p.m.