Miami University
Ohio State
Miami Falls to Ohio State in Championship
9/21/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami University volleyball team came out swinging against Ohio State and won the first set, but the Buckeyes won the next three to end the RedHawks 10-match winning streak at the Miami Invitational and earn the tournament championship Saturday evening. After the 1-3 (25-20, 26-28, 16-25, 17-25) defeat, MU falls to 7-5 overall. Ohio State improves to 9-3.
Senior setter/right side hitter Meg Riley and sophomore middle hitter Paige Hill each earned spots on the All-Tournament Team. Riley had her second triple-double of the tournament with 10 kills, 20 assists and 10 digs. She had 30 kills, 70 assists and 35 digs in the three matches over the weekend. Hill recorded six kills and four blocks (two solo and two assisted) on Saturday. She had an impressive 16 blocks (two solo 14 assisted) over the weekend, an average of 1.45 blocks per set.
Set one was a battle early on as the lead changed hands five times. Trailing 9-11, a service error, followed by a block from redshirt junior middle hitter Jenny Ingle and junior outside hitter Annie Reiswig tied the score. With the score tied at 12, an attack error followed by a block from Ingle and freshman outside hitter Katie Tomasic put Miami in front, 14-12 - a lead it would not relinquish. Two kills from Hill, along with kills from Riley, Ingle and freshman outside hitter Olivia Rusek helped the ‘Hawks build a 22-16 lead. Ohio State scored four in a row to pull within two at 20-22. A solo block by Reiswig ended the run, and she followed it with a kill. On the next point, Ingle and senior right side hitter Sarah Chaney teamed up for a block to give the RedHawks a 25-20 win.
The Buckeyes jumped to an early 4-1 lead to begin set two. Two kills from Riley, along with kills by Reiswig and Rusek were part of a 5-0 run that put the ‘Hawks in front, 6-4. Ohio State fought back to tie the score at nine. Tied at 14, OSU went on a 6-2 run to seemingly take control at 20-16. Miami did not give up however, as a service error followed by a solo block from Hill started the comeback. Trailing 18-21, a kill by Rusek and two blocks were part of a 5-1 run that put the RedHawks in front, 23-22. After the Buckeyes scored, a kill from Reiswig off an assist from sophomore setter Krista Brakauskas gave Miami set point at 24-23. OSU fought it off, but a kill by Riley gave the Red and White another chance. This time the Buckeyes scored two straight to get their own set point. A kill from Ingle fought that off and tied the score at 26, but OSU answered with the next two to earn a 28-26 victory.
Tied at six in set three, Ohio State went on a 10-3 run to take control at 16-9. A kill from Reiswig stopped the bleeding temporarily, but the Buckeyes eventually expanded the advantage to nine at 22-13. Ingle, Hill and Rusek each recorded kills, but Ohio State went on to take a 25-16 win.
Set four started very well for the ‘Hawks as three kills from Reiswig along with a service ace by Riley put Miami in front, 8-4. Kills from Hill and Riley helped MU to a 13-8 advantage. OSU answered with a 7-2 run to tie the score at 15. From there, the RedHawks were only able to score two more points as the Buckeyes pulled away to earn a 25-17 victory and win the match, 3-1.
Rusek led Miami with 12 kills and just missed a double-double with nine digs. Reiswig had 11 kills and four blocks (one solo and three assisted). Brakauskas recorded a double-double with 24 assists and 11 digs, while freshman libero Maeve McDonald had 17 digs. The RedHawks outblocked the Buckeyes, 9-7 for the match.
Next week begins Mid-American Conference play for Miami. The RedHawks travel to Akron on Friday for a 7 p.m. match.
Miami Invitational All-Tournament Team
Taylor Sherwin, Ohio State (MVP)
Erin Sekinger, Ohio State
Katie Mitchell, Ohio State
Meg Riley, Miami
Paige Hill, Miami
Kelly Wachtel, IUPUI
Sydney Nelson, UAB
