Miami University
North Dakota State
Miami Falls to North Dakota State, 1-3
9/13/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
PEORIA, Ill. – The Miami University volleyball team suffered a 1-3 (25-19, 14-25, 23-25, 22-25) setback to North Dakota State Saturday morning at the CEFCU Invitational. The RedHawks fall to 5-3 on the season, while the Bison improve to 3-6.
Despite the defeat, senior outside hitter/setter Meg Riley had her strongest performance of the season. She finished with a triple double, recording 16 kills, 18 assists and 13 digs. She had only two errors in 26 total attacks for a hitting percentage of .538.
Kills from Riley, sophomore outside hitter Maris Below, freshman outside hitter Olivia Rusek and sophomore middle hitter Paige Hill helped lead Miami to a 9-5 lead to begin set one. Riley recorded four more kills as the RedHawks maintained a 15-11 advantage. NDSU pulled to within two at 17-19 before a kill from freshman outside hitter Katie Tomasic put MU back in control. Hill recorded three kills in a row, and a service error gave Miami a 25-19 win.
The Bison opened up a 9-5 lead to begin set two. The RedHawks fought back with four straight points on three North Dakota State errors and a service ace by freshman libero Maeve McDonald. The Bison went on to score the next seven points to take the advantage back, and they would not look back. Despite kills from Riley, Rusek and Tomasic, NDSU went on to take a 25-14 victory.
Tied at nine in set three a service ace by sophomore setter Krista Brakauskas and a NDSU attack error gave the ‘Hawks an 11-9 lead. North Dakota State fought back to tie the score, as the teams traded the lead three more times. Tied at 16, a 5-2 run by the Bison put North Dakota State in front, 21-18. Miami did not give up as two kills apiece from Riley and Ingle helped retie the score at 23. The comeback was not to be as the Bison scored the next two points to earn a 25-23 win.
Set four was close throughout the first half as neither team could build a lead of more than two points. Tied at 11, NDSU went on a 7-2 run to take an 18-13 lead. Riley recorded a pair of kills and teamed up with Hill for a block as part of a 9-5 run that pulled the RedHawks to within one at 22-23. The Bison responded with the final two points to take a 25-22 win and a 3-1 victory in the match.
Miami hit .272 for the match, while North Dakota State hit .263. The Bison had 10 service aces, which proved to be the difference in the win. Ingle finished with 10 kills, while Rusek had eight. Brakauskas led the ‘Hawks with 32 assists, while McDonald finished with 15 digs.
Miami completes play at the CEFCU Invitational later Saturday when it takes on UMKC at 5:30 p.m. (EDT).
