Miami University
Ohio
Ohio Outlasts Miami in Five Sets
10/11/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami University volleyball team battled to the end against the defending Mid-American Conference Champion Ohio Bobcats, but ultimately fell, 2-3 (18-25, 25-21, 25-20, 16-25, 8-15), Friday evening at Millett Hall. The RedHawks are now 9-8 overall and 2-3 in the MAC. Ohio improves to 12-4 overall and 5-0 in the MAC.
Senior setter/right side hitter Meg Riley had a strong overall match offensively, defensively and setting. She finished only one kill shy of a triple-double. She did record her 12th double-double of the year with nine kills, 19 assists and 14 digs.
Ohio came out attacking in set one, quickly jumping to an 11-2 lead. A block by junior middle hitter Jenny Ingle and senior right side hitter Sarah Chaney began the RedHawk comeback. Two kills from freshman outside hitter Olivia Rusek, along with two kills apiece by Riley and junior outside hitter Annie Reiswig were part of a 10-2 run that closed the deficit to two points at 12-14. After the Bobcats answered with two straight points, a 4-0 run capped by two straight blocks from Chaney tied the score at 16. The comeback ended there however, as Ohio finished off a 25-18 win by closing on a 9-2 run.
Tied at seven in set two, a 9-2 run by Miami gave it control at 16-9. During the run, Rusek had two kills, while Riley and sophomore middle hitter Paige Hill each put one down off assists from sophomore setter Krista Brakauskas. The Bobcats closed to within four at 14-18, but three straight from the ‘Hawks pushed the advantage back to seven. Ohio made it interesting with a 6-2 run that pulled it to within three at 20-23, but Reiswig answered with a kill. After an OU point, Ingle finished off a 25-21 victory with a kill off a great set by Brakauskas.
Miami came out on fire in set three. Riley had three kills while Chaney contributed two as the RedHawks opened up a 12-2 advantage. The Bobcats chipped away and closed it to within six at 15-9, but kills from Reiswig and Rusek helped Miami get the advantage back to nine at 19-10. Ohio followed with a 10-4 run that made things interesting at 20-23. The RedHawks would not allow the comeback to be completed though, as back-to-back kills by Rusek and Reiswig gave MU a 25-20 win.
Tied at five in set four, Ohio scored five straight points to take a 10-5 lead. Ingle, Reiswig and Riley each recorded kills, but the Bobcats were able to maintain the advantage. In front, 14-11, an 8-2 run put OU in control at 22-13. Rusek and Reiswig each recorded kills, but Ohio finished off a 25-16 victory and sent the match to a decisive fifth set.
The Bobcats scored the first three points of set five, but kills from Riley and Brakauskas were part of a 4-1 run that quickly tied the score. Ohio pushed the advantage back to two at 7-5, but a kill and a service ace from Rusek tied the score once again. After the Bobcats answered with a kill, OU’s Kelly Lamberti used a strong serve to complete a 6-0 run that put it in control at 13-7. A kill from Reiswig stopped the bleeding, but Ohio scored the next two points to take a 15-8 victory and win the match, 3-2.
Rusek had a double-double for Miami with 15 kills and 10 digs, while Brakauskas had a double-double with 24 assists and 15 digs. Reiswig had 13 kills for the RedHawks, while freshman libero Maeve McDonald led the way with 26 digs. Ohio outblocked Miami 13-6 in the win.
The RedHawks return to action on Saturday when they host Kent State at 5 p.m.
