Troy University Athletics
Troy University
Miami (OH) University
Troy Falls to Host RedHawks
9/12/2009 3:30:00 PM | Volleyball
OXFORD, Ohio - The Trojans took to the floor again at the Miami Best Western Sycamore Inn Classic on Saturday morning when they took on the host Miami (OH) RedHawks.
The Trojans (3-6) fell to the RedHawks in three sets, 25-15, 25-18, 26-24. The Trojans fell victim to late set runs by Miami (OH) in all three sets.
Troy was led by Meghan Gilroy with 11 kills and a .360 attack percentage. Gilroy also led the Trojans with nine digs. Freshman Lizzie Clough spiked down nine kills for the Trojans while adding eight digs. The Trojans hit .174 as a team while allowing the RedHawks to hit a .305 attack percentage.
In the first set, the Trojans fell behind early, losing the first five points. Troy couldn't manage to score two straight points until they were already down, 11-4. The RedHawks maintained a seven point lead until 22-15, when they took three straight to clinch the set, 25-15.
"We just didn't come ready to play in the first set," said head coach Sonny Kirkpatrick, "we were very lackadaisical and played with no urgency."
The second set started out a lot better for the Trojans. Neither team was ever ahead by more than two in the early stages. The two squads found themselves tied as late as 15-15. At that time, the RedHawks (3-5) went on a 5-0 run to pull ahead, 20-15. The Trojans took three of four to pull within three at 21-18. It was then that Miami (OH) took four straight to win the second set, 25-18.
The Trojans fell behind early in the third set, losing six of the first nine points. Troy found themselves down by as many as six points at 15-9. However, they fought back to win six straight, and for the second consecutive set, tie the score up at 15-15. Troy then won eight of ten to pull ahead 17-22.
The Trojans got themselves in position to win the set when they pulled ahead, 20-24. However, the RedHawks didn't back down, and Troy was on the wrong end of yet another late set run. Miami (OH) took six straight points to win the final set, 26-24, and the match, 3-0.
"We played very hard in the third set and I was pleased," Kirkpatrick said, "When we play hard like that, the scores indicate it, but the same is true when we don't."
Megan Henderson had 30 assists for the Trojans. Brittany McClelland led the team with 27 attack attempts, posting six kills. She also had seven digs.
The Trojans will face St. John's in their final match of the Miami Best Western Sycamore Inn Classic today at 3 p.m. ET. Check back with TroyTrojans.com for more news and notes from the volleyball court, as well as all of Troy Athletics.
