OXFORD, Ohio – While it ended up being a grind at some points, the Miami University volleyball team used leadership from its juniors and seniors to earn a 3-2 (22-25, 25-22, 25-16, 21-25, 15-8) victory over Toledo on Thursday. With their fourth straight victory, the RedHawks improve to 13-8 overall and 6-3 in the Mid-American Conference. The Rockets fall to 1-21 overall and 0-9 in the MAC.
Senior setter/right side hitter Meg Riley came through for Miami when it needed her most. She finished with the 13th triple-double of her career, recording 17 kills, 29 assists and 17 digs. She also assisted on three blocks. Riley made only one error in 26 attempts for an incredible attack percentage of .615 for the match.
Set one started off well for the RedHawks as sophomore middle hitter Paige Hill recorded two kills, while senior right side hitter Sarah Chaney and redshirt junior middle hitter Jenny Ingle each had one to lead MU to an 8-4 lead. Toledo responded by scoring the next six points in a row to take a 10-8 advantage. The Rockets would eventually push that advantage to five at 19-14. Junior outside hitter Annie Reiswig put down a pair of kills to help pull the RedHawks to within two at 21-23, but Toledo traded side outs with Miami to take a 25-22 win.
Set two was close early on as the lead traded hands three times. Freshman outside hitter Olivia Rusek had two kills and a service ace in the early going. Tied at 11, a kill from Hill and a block by Hill and Riley began a 6-1 run that gave the RedHawks a 17-12 lead. The Rockets scored the next three points, but Rusek responded with four straight kills to make it 21-15 and force a Toledo timeout. Out of the break, Riley recorded a kill off an assist from sophomore setter Krista Brakauskas to make it a seven-point advantage. Toledo fought back, going on a 7-2 run to pull within two, but a setting error by the Rockets gave the RedHawks a 25-22 win.
Two kills and a service ace from Riley, along with a kill by Ingle helped give the ‘Hawks a 10-4 lead in set three. In front, 14-8, Miami went on a 4-1 run thanks to kills from Riley and Rusek. In front, 19-12, two kills from Chaney, along with kills from Reiswig and Ingle gave the Red and White their largest lead at 23-13. That proved to be more than enough as a Rocket service error gave Miami a 25-16 victory.
Despite a pair of kills from Riley, Toledo built a 12-9 lead to begin set four. The ‘Hawks would close the advantage down to one several times, but the Rockets would always answer with a timely score. In front, 19-18, Toledo put down three straight points to take a four-point advantage. Riley and Ingle would each get kills off Brakauskas assists, but the Rockets were able to hold on to a 25-21 victory and send the match into a decisive fifth set.
The RedHawks forced Toledo into three straight attack errors to begin set five. Toledo answered with two points in row of its own, but a kill from Hill and a block by Ingle and Riley gave Miami a 5-2 lead. In front, 6-5, a 3-0 run by the Red and White put it in control. With the score 10-7, kills from Riley and Reiswig put Miami on the brink of victory. A kill by Rusek off an assist by Brakauskas finished off a 15-8 win and gave the RedHawks a five-set victory in the match.
Hill finished with 13 kills and a .476 attack percentage. Rusek had 12 kills, while Ingle finished with 11. Freshman libero Maeve McDonald led Miami with 26 digs, while Brakauskas had 33 assists. The RedHawks hit .251 as a team, and held Toledo to a .183 attack percentage.
Miami continues its longest homestand of the season when it hosts Ball State Friday at 7 p.m.
