PEORIA, Ill. – The Miami University volleyball team overcame a first set stumble to take control in the final three sets and earn a 3-1 (26-28, 25-16, 25-19, 25-18) victory over the host Bradley to open the CEFCU Invitational on Friday. The RedHawks improve to 5-2 on the season, while the Braves fall to 0-8.
Sophomore middle hitter Paige Hill was one of several standout performers for MU on Friday. She finished with 16 kills and contributed a season-high six blocks (two solo and four assisted). Hill did not have a single attack error on 24 attempts, giving her a hitting percentage of .667.
Sophomore setter Krista Brakauskas was one of the leaders defensively as she recorded her second double-double of the season. She finished with 25 assists and a season-high 16 digs for the RedHawks.
Two kills from Hill, senior outside hitter/setter Meg Riley and redshirt junior middle hitter Jenny Ingle helped Miami to a 10-6 lead to begin set one. Bradley fought back to tie the score at 12, before a 5-2 run gave the ‘Hawks a 17-14 advantage. The Braves answered with their own 6-1 run to go in front, 20-18. Tied at 22, kills by freshman outside hitter Olivia Rusek and Riley gave MU set point at 24-22, but Bradley fought it off with three straight points to get their own set point. Miami fought off set point two times, but the Braves finally scored two straight to take a 28-26 win.
A block by Hill and a kill from Ingle were part of a quick start for the RedHawks as they took a 6-1 lead in set two. Despite a service ace and two kills from Rusek, Bradley went on a 10-4 run to take the advantage at 11-10. Trailing 12-13, a kill from Hill and a block by Riley and Hill were part of five straight points that would give Miami the lead for good. In front 19-15, two straight kills from junior outside hitter Annie Reiswig started the final run. Rusek put down a kill, while Riley recorded a service ace to finish off a 25-16 victory.
Bradley opened up a 6-2 advantage to begin set three. Two kills from senior right side hitter Sarah Chaney, along with two emphatic kills from sophomore outside hitter Maris Below were part of a 7-3 run that tied the score at nine. Brakauskas recorded a service ace to put the ‘Hawks in front, and assisted on a pair of Ingle kills as Miami eventually took a 17-14 advantage. Bradley closed to within two, but a kill and a solo block by Hill helped make it a 20-15 lead. In front 21-17, a service ace by Brakauskas, a kill from Riley and a block by Below and Hill gave MU set point. Hill finished off a 25-19 win with a nice kill off a Brakauskas assist.
After falling behind 0-2 in set four, three straight kills from Hill would set the tone for the rest of the match. Reiswig recorded two kills and assisted on two blocks as the RedHawks opened up a 10-5 lead. The Braves closed to within two, but Hill and Riley recorded two kills each to give Miami a 15-10 advantage. Bradley had one final run in it as it scored five of the next six points to pull within one at 15-16. The RedHawks put the set away with a 6-2 answer that made it 22-17. A solo block by Riley put the final touches on a 25-18 victory and gave Miami a 3-1 win in the match.
As a team, the ‘Hawks hit .289 for the match while holding Bradley to a .116 hitting percentage. Miami also recorded 10 blocks on the night. Ingle and Riley each finished with nine kills. Riley flirted with a triple-double, recording 25 assists and eight digs. Reiswig had eight kills, while freshman libero Maeve McDonald led the team with 19 digs.
The RedHawks continue play at the CEFCU Invitational on Saturday when they take on North Dakota State at 11 a.m. (EDT).
