TCU
Miami Ohio @ TCU Invitational
Volleyball Tops Miami University, 3-1
9/14/2002 12:00:00 AM
Sept. 14, 2002
FORT WORTH, Texas - The TCU Volleyball team (6-4) finished its own tournament on a winning note, when the team defeated Miami University (Ohio) in a four-game battle Saturday afternoon. Sophomore Dominika Szabo was named to the all-tournament team for her efforts during the weekend.
The Frogs played solid volleyball during game one, but almost let the win slip away as they were up by as many as eight (29-21) before letting Miami back into the action. Freshman Carissa Mills gave TCU a kill to win game one, 30-24.
TCU had to rally from a 6-12 deficit to earn the win in the second game. Again it was a freshman team member with the winning move as Erin Estep posted a kill to seal the 30-27 win. That victory sent the Frogs into intermission leading 2-0.
Miami refused to go quietly, however, and stormed back in game three. They led the entire way, by as many as 10 at one point. With the RedHawks' 30-23 win, they forced a fourth game.
The teams went back and forth during the last match, trading points. TCU was never really able to make a break, and squeaked out the 30-28 victory behind another kill from Estep.
"It's a great thing for our team to have been up two, not played well in game three, then come back in the fourth," said head coach Prentice Lewis. "To be in the fourth game trading points rotation by rotation and to win shows the character of this team. We've gotten over a hump and now we have to just get better and better."
Szabo and senior Stephanie Watson each posted 14 kills in the win, while Szabo also led the team in attacks with 45. Junior Tori Barlow had 48 assists and three aces. Senior Jenn Cuca earned 18 digs for the afternoon. Estep led the team in blocks with six.
Earlier in the day, Miami defeated San Jose State by a score of 3-2. San Jose State rallied in the nightcap to defeat Stephen F. Austin, 3-1. Miami won the tournament championship and Susan Poll of Miami was named tournament MVP. The rest of the all-tournament team consisted of Tara Buroker (Miami), Kim Noble (San Jose State), Fran Pozzi (San Jose State), Dominika Szabo (TCU), Jennifer Wilson (Stephen F. Austin), and libero Deborah Kirkham (Stephen F. Austin).
The Frogs head back out on the road as they travel to North Texas on Tuesday, Sept. 17 for a 7:00 p.m. tilt against the Lady Eagles. They will end the week at the Clemson Invitational where they will take on Coastal Carolina (Friday, 3:30 p.m. CT), Virginia Tech (Saturday, 11:00 a.m. CT) and host Clemson (Saturday, 6:00 p.m. CT).
