UMKC's Holly Schmidt goes up for a kill.

Kangaroos' late kick not enough to overcome Grizzlies

By: Elyssa Brogdon

Posted: 11/12/07

What has seemed a tough second half of the 2007 Summit League season for the UMKC Kangaroos almost came one match closer to ending on Friday night.

The Roos took on the Oakland University Golden Grizzlies in a five-match game at Athletics Recreation O'Rena. Despite a valiant comeback by UMKC, after the dust settled, the result was the same: another defeat for the Kangaroos.

Game one began with an early Oakland lead as the Roos were mauled with a pair of five-point runs and a commanding 12-4 lead.

The Grizzlies finished game one in much the same way they started it, with a seven-point run that was largely due to a pair of Oakland service aces and several Roo errors.

The second game began similarly as Oakland held an 11-4 advantage early. The Grizzlies continued to play well as they charged out to a 29-17 lead and a game point.

The Roos refused to go quietly as UMKC freshman Holly Schmidt and senior Sarah Johnson pounded a pair of kills to the floor, part of a six-point run that ended with a 30-23 Oakland victory.

The Kangaroos climbed five points before a Roo error ended the game 30-23.

After the intermission, the Roos showed the fight they had exhibited all season long. UMKC took an early four-point lead 4-0, and made it last the whole game.

The Roos hit small runs throughout that expanded the lead to eight, 23-15.

UMKC dominated the rest of the game with Schmidt hammering kill after kill against Golden Grizzly volleys.

Game three went the way of the Roos, 30-24. But UMKC wasn't finished. Plenty seemed left in the tank.

Game four began with with the Golden Grizzlies taking the lead 13-9, looking to close out the pesky Roos.

UMKC climbed the scoreboard, eventually forcing a 23-23 tie. The squads would force five more back-and-forth ties throughout the game. The Roos had the last laugh, winning the game and tying the match by the score 31-29.

The fifth game began much like the end of the fourth, knotted up on successive points.

Oakland then began to pull away with an 8-4 lead.

The Grizzlies executed another four-point run that brought the game to game-point 14-7. A Grizzly error stalled the end of the game, but the next play ended with a Grizzly kill 15-8, winning the game and taking the match.

ebrogdon@unews.com