OXFORD, Ohio – A day after a tough five-set defeat to Ohio, the Miami University volleyball team rebounded with a 3-0 (25-17, 28-26, 25-17) win over Kent State on Saturday. The RedHawks improve to 10-8 overall and 3-3 in the Mid-American Conference. The Golden Flashes fall to 10-9 overall and 2-4 in the MAC.
Junior outside hitter Annie Reiswig led Miami offensively against KSU. She led the ‘Hawks with 11 kills and only made three errors in 26 attempts for a .308 attack percentage.
Two kills apiece from Reiswig and freshman outside hitter Olivia Rusek helped lead Miami to an 11-5 lead to begin set one. The Golden Flashes answered with their own 7-3 run to close to within two at 12-14. A kill by Rusek off an assist from sophomore Krista Brakauskas and a service ace by sophomore middle hitter Paige Hill put the RedHawks back up by four. In front 17-16, kills by Rusek and junior middle hitter Jenny Ingle, followed by a service ace from Rusek gave Miami control. In front 20-17, kills from Ingle and Hill were part of a 5-0 run that finished off a 25-17 victory for MU.
While Miami was ahead the majority of set two, it remained tight throughout. Trailing 13-15, Kent State scored three points to gain the advantage at 16-15. The RedHawks fought right back, as kills from Reiswig, senior right side hitter Sarah Chaney and senior setter/right side hitter Meg Riley, along with two blocks from Hill gave Miami a 20-16 lead. The Golden Flashes did not give up, going on a 7-3 run to tie the score at 23. The Red and White followed with an attack error that gave KSU set point. A kill from Riley fought it off and retied the score. Tied at 26, Chaney and Ingle created a set point of their own for the ‘Hawks. A kill by Ingle gave Miami a 28-26 win.
Kent State took an 11-9 lead early in set three. The RedHawks answered with a 7-2 run to put themselves in front by three at 16-13. With the score 18-16, back-to-back blocks by Hill and a kill from Reiswig put Miami firmly in control. At 22-17, kills by Reiswig and Hill, followed by a service ace from senior defensive specialist Tori Clifford earned the ‘Hawks a 25-17 victory and a three-set win.
Rusek and Ingle had eight kills apiece, while Ingle and Riley each had seven. Hill was a part of five (two solo and three assisted) of Miami’s nine blocks on the day. Riley and Brakauskas tied for the team lead with 22 assists apiece, while freshman libero Maeve McDonald led the RedHawks with 18 digs.
Miami hits the road next week for a pair of conference matches. The RedHawks travel to Eastern Michigan Friday at 7 p.m. They will then head to Central Michigan Saturday for a 7:30 p.m. match.
