Miami University
.png&width=60&height=60&type=webp)
Mississippi State
Miami Defeats Mississippi State, 3-1
9/6/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Follow: @MiamiOH_Vball | @MiamiRedHawks
Like: Miami RedHawks Volleyball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Miami University volleyball team overcame a power outage early in the first set to take a 3-1 (23-25, 25-21, 26-24, 25-19) victory over Mississippi State Saturday morning at the Indiana Invitational. The RedHawks improve to 3-2 on the season, while the Bulldogs fall to 2-4.
Freshman outside hitter Olivia Rusek set another career-high with 18 kills in the match. She made only four attack errors in 32 attempts for a hitting percentage of .438. Rusek just missed a double-double, finishing with nine digs.
As a team, Miami hit .358 and recorded 71 kills. Joining Rusek with double-digit kills were junior outside hitter Annie Reiswig, who finished with 14 and redshirt junior middle hitter Jenny Ingle, who had 13.
The RedHawks fell behind, 5-8, early in set one before two kills from freshman middle hitter Courtney Bemis helped pull MU within two at 7-9. MSU pushed the advantage back to four at 12-8 before a kill by Ingle made it 9-12. Then the lights went out at University Gym, leaving the teams in total darkness.
“The challenges we have faced at this facility have been difficult and unusual,” said head coach Carolyn Condit. “I am very proud of how the team is moving through them with persistence and pride.”
A delay of 52 minutes ensued as they worked to get the lights back on. The RedHawks and Bulldogs even engaged in a dance-off to pass the time. Once the match got back underway, Mississippi State took a five-point lead at 15-10. Three kills from Rusek and a pair of kills by Ingle were part of a 7-3 run that pulled Miami to within one at 17-18. The Bulldogs responded with a 5-1 run of their own to make it 23-18. A service error, a kill by sophomore middle hitter Paige Hill and a service ace by senior outside hitter/setter Meg Riley cut the deficit to three at 21-23. A service error gave MSU set point, but Miami fought it off twice on kills by Reiswig and Hill. The comeback was not to be as Mississippi State scored next to take a 25-23 win.
Miami overcame an early 4-0 deficit to tie the score at 10 in set two. Rusek put down another kill, but MSU eventually took a 15-14 lead. Tied at 19, solo blocks by Ingle and Riley put the RedHawks in front by two. Miami maintained that advantage until it was 23-21. Back-to-back kills by Reiswig and Hill off sophomore setter Krista Brakauskas’ assist allowed MU to take a 25-21 victory.
Rusek continued to lead the ‘Hawks on offense as she put down five kills to help Miami to a 10-6 lead in set three. The Bulldogs rallied to take a 12-11 advantage. A kill from Ingle and a service ace by senior defensive specialist Tori Clifford put the RedHawks back in front. Two kills by sophomore outside hitter Maris Below pushed the advantage to 20-17 but the Bulldogs scored two straight to pull within one. With Miami in front, 23-22, a kill by Reiswig off Brakauskas’ assist created set point. Mississippi State fought it off once, but another kill from Reiswig finished off a 25-23 win.
Two kills each from Reiswig and Riley helped Miami to an 8-5 advantage to start set four. Mississippi State eventually tied the score at 13, but a pair of kills from Hill and Reiswig made it 17-15 in favor of the RedHawks. With the score 18-17, kills from Riley, Reiswig, Ingle and Rusek were part of a 5-0 run that put Miami firmly in control. MSU scored two straight after that, but back-to-back kills by Rusek gave Miami a 25-19 victory and a 3-1 win in the match.
Hill and Riley each contributed eight kills to the RedHawk attack. Brakauskas led the way with 34 assists, while freshman libero Maeve McDonald had 16 digs.
Miami completes play at the Indiana Invitational later Saturday against Southeast Missouri State at 5 p.m. Due to conditions at University Gym, the match will be played at Assembly Hall.
