Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Miami
Eagles Fall 3-0 to Miami at Home
10/18/2008 8:53:37 PM | Volleyball
Sophomore Jennifer Swartz hit a team-best .381 in the loss
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YPSILANTI, Mich. -- The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team dropped a close match tonight, Saturday, Oct. 18 at the Convocation Center, as the RedHawks from Miami University managed to down the Eagles, 3-0 (21-25, 21-25, and 28-30).
The loss drops EMU to 8-14 (2-5 MAC) this season, while Miami improves to 12-7 (6-1 MAC) with the win.
Sophomore Jennifer Swartz (Canton, Mich.-Westland John Glenn) had a solid night for the Eagles, as she tallied 11 kills and hit a team-best .381 against the RedHawks. Senior Hayvolla Leite (Paraiba, Brazil-Indian Hills C.C.) hit .344 and recorded a game-high 14 kills in the loss, while junior Victoria Randolph (Cincinnati, Ohio-Mount Notre Dame) hit .257 with 12 kills for EMU.
The MAC East leading RedHawks jumped out to an early lead in the opening set, but EMU managed to pull within four at 22-18 after being down eight, forcing a Miami timeout. The Eagles would pull within three at 24-21, but the RedHawks would hold on for the victory to take a 1-0 advantage.
After being down by as many as nine points in the second set, the Eagles found momentum, as four consecutive points limited Miami’s lead to 14-9. A second late rally by the Eagles put them within three at 24-21, but a kill in front of the net by Miami’s Megan Griffin sealed a 25-21 win for the RedHawks and a 2-0 lead.
The Eagles would come out firing after intermission, taking a 19-15 advantage – their biggest lead of the night. However, the RedHawks would rally late in the set to bring the match to 22-all. After being knotted again at 28-apiece, Miami would seal a sweep in Ypsilanti, as back-to-back errors by the Eagles would prove to be the deciding factor.
Freshman Ashley Mason (Eastlake, Ohio-Lake Catholic) nearly recorded a double-double in the match, as she finished with a team-high 39 assists and nine digs in the loss.
The Eagles will hit the road for two conference tilts next week, as they travel to Akron, Ohio on Friday, Oct. 24 to face the Zips from the University of Akron before heading to Buffalo, N.Y. to take on the Bulls from Buffalo on Saturday, Oct. 25.
