OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami University volleyball team used a balanced effort to get back on the winning track with a 3-0 (26-24, 25-13, 25-22) victory over Akron Friday evening. The RedHawks improve to 9-8 overall and 1-4 in the Mid-American Conference. The Zips fall to 6-10 overall and 0-5 in the MAC.
Miami had a total of 12 blocks in the three set match, while Akron finished with only four. Freshman middle hitter Paige Hill led the way with six blocks (one solo and five assisted), and also tied with junior outside hitter/setter Meg Riley for the team lead with eight kills.
Tied at five in the first set, Akron went on a 7-3 run to take a 12-8 lead. A kill and a service ace by Hill, along with a block by freshman outside hitter Maris Below and sophomore middle hitter Jenny Ingle was part of 5-0 run for the RedHawks to take the advantage back. The teams traded the lead back-and-forth a couple of times until the score was tied at 19. The Zips scored three of the next four points to go in front, 22-20, but back-to-back kills from Riley and Below tied the score and forced an Akron timeout. Out of the break, Below had another kill, and then teamed up with Hill on a block to give Miami set point at 24-22. The Zips were able to fight it off with two straight points, but an Akron attack error followed by a kill from Ingle off of Krista Brakauskas’ assist gave the ‘Hawks a 26-24 win.
Three kills from Riley were part of an 11-2 opening run for Miami to begin set two. Ingle had a pair of kills, while Hill and sophomore outside hitter Annie Reiswig teamed up for a block as the RedHawks increased the advantage to 11 at 17-6. In front, 19-11, kills by Below and sophomore outside hitter Sarah Chaney were part of a 6-2 closing run that gave Miami a dominating 25-13 victory.
Tied at five in set three, a 9-4 run by the Red and White gave it control at 14-9. Akron fought back with a 6-2 run to pull within one at 15-16 and force a Miami timeout. Out of the break, senior outside hitter Madison Dodd put down a kill, while Chaney followed with two straight blocks to start the ‘Hawks on a 6-2 run that made it 22-17. The Zips got as close as two points at 22-24, but a block by Below and Hill finished off a 25-22 win and gave Miami a straight-set victory.
In addition to Riley and Hill’s eight kills, Ingle finished with seven kills, while Reiswig had six. Brakauskas led the way with 20 assists, while senior libero Madison Hardy had 11 digs. Miami hit .258 for the match, while holding Akron to a .121 hitting percentage.
The RedHawks continue their homestand on Saturday when they host Buffalo at 5 p.m.
