BY KELLIE TAYLOR
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The four captains on Miami University's volleyball team have accomplished something no other class in the history of the school's prestigious program has - they have qualified for the NCAA tournament every year of their collegiate careers.
This year's RedHawks (27-7) earned the automatic berth by winning the Mid-American Conference title Saturday at Millett Hall. Miami needed just 55 minutes to sweep past defending champion Northern Illinois (26-6) in the title match, 15-8, 15-5, 15-3. Miami will play Nevada at Hawaii this weekend (date and time to be announced) in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
"We came out strong and it just snowballed," Miami coach Carolyn Condit said. "It was the best level of volleyball this team has played all year. A coach can only hope that happens at tournament time."
Senior middle hitter Julie Sterk, who knocked down nine kills with no errors in the win, and junior middle hitter Alissia Thompson, who had a team-high 11 kills and six block assists, were named to the all-tournament team. Thompson was named tournament MVP.
"Julie and Alissia are two big reasons we rose to the top at the end of the year," Condit said. "They're both very quick in the transition."
Condit also credits the leadership of the team's four seniors, Sterk, outside hitter Maggie Clark, defensive specialist Jamie Hales and outside hitter Lori Moehring.
"My seniors are a very confident group," said Miami's 15th-year coach. "They've played with more stubborn determination this past season than any team I've coached."
Hales, who has played in every match in her career at Miami, has watched a strong team from last season continue to improve this year.
"We try to always have a positive attitude on the court," Hales said. "We're all such great friends on and off the court and it shows. It's a very positive atmosphere."
Hales is confident the RedHawks can have a good showing in the NCAA tournament, which starts Wednesday. Miami has never advanced past the first round.
"The last two weeks we have been playing out of our minds," Hales said. "We've handled every pressure match really well. It's just been so much fun."
