AKRON, Ohio – Despite dropping the first set, it was a successful start to Mid-American Conference play as the Miami University volleyball team defeated Akron on the road, 3-1 (21-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-23). The RedHawks improve to 8-5 overall and 1-0 in the MAC. The Zips fall to 6-10 overall and 0-1 in the MAC.

Freshman outside hitter Olivia Rusek had a memorable first conference match. She finished with 17 kills, and made only four errors in 36 attempts for a hitting percentage of .361. Sophomore setter Krista Brakauskas recorded a double-double for Miami with 23 assists and a team-lead tying 14 digs.

Tied at six in set one, a 6-2 run by Akron put it in front, 12-8. Two kills from freshman middle hitter Meredith Stutz, along with kills from redshirt junior middle hitter Jenny Ingle and sophomore outside hitter Maris Below were part of a 6-2 answer by the RedHawks that retied the score at 14. After Akron pushed the lead back to three at 18-15, a kill and a block by Rusek started a run of five straight points that gave MU the lead at 20-18. Miami’s attack went cold from there, as the Zips finished off a 25-21 win with a 7-1 closing run.

Thanks to kills from Rusek, senior setter/right side hitter Meg Riley and junior outside hitter Annie Reiswig, Miami took an early lead in set two. However, the RedHawks were unable to build the advantage to more than two points during the first half of the set. With Miami in front 13-11, Akron scored three in a row to take a 14-13 advantage. Kills from Rusek and sophomore middle hitter Paige Hill were part of a 6-3 run that gave the Red and White the lead back at 19-17. The Zips scored two in a row to tie the score, but the ‘Hawks answered with a 3-0 run. In front 23-20, back-to-back kills from Rusek off assists from Brakauskas gave Miami a 25-20 victory.

Kills from Below, Rusek and senior right side hitter Sarah Chaney helped the RedHawks to a 4-2 lead to begin set three. Ingle put down a pair of kills as the Red and White increased the advantage to 9-5. With the score 10-9 in favor of MU, two kills from Hill were part of a 6-1 run that gave the ‘Hawks control at 16-10. A 6-3 run by Akron tightened the score but kills from Rusek, Ingle and Reiswig put an end to the Zips hope for a comeback. A block by Chaney and Hill finished off a 25-18 win for the RedHawks.

It did not look for Miami throughout the majority of set four. An early Akron advantage bloomed to as six points at 15-9. A kill from Reiswig and back-to-back blocks by Hill started a string of six straight points that allowed the RedHawks to tie the score. The Zips fought back, going on a 7-1 run as they were back in front, 22-16. Rusek took over from there as she recorded three kills as MU once again scored six straight to tie the score. After Akron put down a point, a service error and an attack error put the ‘Hawks in front. Reiswig finished off the 25-23 comeback victory with one final kill.

 Reiswig and Ingle each had nine kills for Miami, while Riley had a team-leading 24 assists. Hill finished with six block (three solo and three assisted), while Chaney had five blocks (two solo and three assisted). Miami hit .245 as a team, while holding the Zips to a .153 hitting percentage.

The RedHawks return to action Saturday when they travel to Buffalo for a 7:30 p.m. match.