The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

MU volleyball young, talented

Reds hit 3 homers in big win over Rockies
5/27/12
Miami baseball ends with loss
5/27/12
Ask Hal: Imitation of others just part of the game
5/27/12
Trotwood's McCray gets OSU offer despite Michigan commit
5/27/12
Commentary: Hang in there, soccer parents
5/27/12
> More sports headlines

1:00 AM Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Miami University volleyball coach Carloyn Condit described her 2010 RedHawks as “the youngest team I’ve ever had,” but they are by no means the least talented.

The RedHawks (4-6) have won three of their last four matches and will take that momentum into this weekend’s Miami Best Western Invitational at Millett Hall.

Miami will open against DePaul at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17.

Saturday’s contests will feature Miami vs. Illinois State at 10:30 a.m., Indiana vs. DePaul at 1 p.m., Illinois St. vs. DePaul at 5, and Miami vs. Indiana at 7:30.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for those younger than 18.

The only returning starter from a Miami squad that went 17-4 last fall, tying for second in the Mid-American Conference East Division at 11-5, is senior middle hitter Michele Metzler.

“Everybody else is getting their feet wet,” said Condit, who owns 475 career wins at Miami.

“That didn’t keep me from overscheduling,” Condit added with a laugh. Three of Miami’s six losses have come against teams with Top 25 aspirations: Kentucky, Ohio State and Michigan.

Metzler, the 2007 MAC Freshman of the Year, was named to the All-MAC second team last year after leading the RedHawks in blocks and hitting percentage.

“She has the quickness to be one of the top hitters and blockers in our conference,” Condit said.

Two attackers who are starting for the first time are juniors Amy Raseman, a left-hander and a former walk-on who leads Miami with 96 kills, and Cassie Farrell, who leads the team with a .291 hitting percentage.

In the backcourt are sophomore Lisa Treadway and redshirt freshman Jackie Lang.

“They’ll help bring our attacking game to the next level,” Condit said. “Those two kids are very talented athletes, and their game understanding is very strong.”

The setter is sophomore Amy Kendall, who Condit said brings energy to the offense.

Another player to watch is Hamilton High School graduate Christina Menche, a sophomore outside hitter.

“She’s starting to come into her own,” Condit said. “She’s an athlete with the go-to power that every team looks for.”

Hockey heating up

Miami’s quest for a third straight trip to the Frozen Four begins in just 18 days when coach Enrico Blasi and his RedHawks play an exhibition game at 3:05 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3, against Waterloo at Steve Cady Arena.

Penn State is expected to make an announcement concerning its hockey programs as early as Friday, and you can be sure coaches and administrators at Miami and throughout the Central Collegiate Hockey Association are paying close attention.

If the Nittany Lions do field a men’s team, the immediate question would be: Which conference would they join?

If they join the CCHA or another established conference, there will be sighs of relief. But if the Big Ten decides to put together its own hockey conference, the CCHA would stand to lose Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State.

And then? Let the scrambling begin.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.

Miami Insider

Pete Conrad

Share this article