Miami University
Southeast Missouri State
Miami Takes Down SEMO in Straight Sets
9/6/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Miami University volleyball team had a successful conclusion to the Indiana Invitational with a 3-0 (25-23, 27-25, 25-19) victory over Southeast Missouri State Saturday afternoon. The RedHawks improve to 4-2, while SEMO falls to 1-5.
Senior setter/right side hitter Meg Riley was the star on Saturday. She finished with 10 kills, 19 assists and nine digs, falling just one dig short of a triple-double. She was joined offensively by sophomore middle hitter Paige Hill. She finished with 11 kills and made only three errors on 16 attacks for a hitting percentage of .500.
Sophomore setter Krista Brakauskas had an incredible start to set one. As the opening server, she recorded five service aces. Along with one kill by Riley, it allowed MU to open up a 6-0 lead. Southeast responded with a 7-4 run pull within three at 7-10. Hill put down a kill off Riley’s assist to help Miami push the advantage back to five, but Southeast Missouri State was eventually able to tie the score at 13. Tied at 16, a SEMO attack error followed by back-to-back kills from Hill put the RedHawks in front, 19-16. Southeast fought back to tie the score at 20. The teams traded points until it was tied at 23. A kill by junior middle hitter Jenny Ingle, followed by a block by Riley and Ingle gave Miami a 25-23 win.
Despite three kills from Riley, the RedHawks fell behind, 4-8, to begin set two. Led by a pair of kills apiece from sophomore outside hitter Maris Below and Ingle, Miami went on an 8-1 run to take a 12-9 lead. SEMO rallied to tie the score at 13. With the score tied at 17, a 3-1 run by Southeast gave it a 20-18 advantage. The RedHawks did not give up as back-to-back kills by Ingle, followed by a kill from Riley put MU back on top. The teams traded points until the score was tied at 24. A RedHawk attack error gave SEMO set point, but Hill fought it off with a kill. Hill then recorded a service act to give Miami set point. The Red and White took a 27-25 victory after freshman forward Olivia Rusek recorded a kill off Riley’s assist.
Miami built an early 5-1 lead in set three. The RedHawks maintained the advantage throughout, as a kill from freshman outside hitter Katie Tomasic gave them a 15-10 lead. SEMO closed to within three, but another kill from Tomasic and a service ace by Riley helped push the lead to six at 20-14. That proved to be more than enough, as a kill from Hill and two straight Southeast attack errors gave Miami a 25-19 win.
Brakauskas led the RedHawks with 22 assists and six service aces. Freshman libero Maeve McDonald had 16 digs to lead Miami defensively.
At the conclusion of the tournament, Ingle and Rusek were each named to the All-Tournament Team.
The RedHawks return at action next weekend at the CEFCU Classic in Peoria, Illinois. On Friday, Sept. 12, Miami takes on host Bradley at 8 p.m. (EDT). On Saturday, Sept. 13, the ‘Hawks face North Dakota State at 11 a.m. (EDT) and UMKC at 5:30 p.m. (EDT).
