Miami University
Northern Illinois
Miami Falls to NIU in Three Sets
10/10/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
DEKALB, Ill. -- The Miami University volleyball team ran into a tough Northern Illinois block and came up just short in each set as it fell 0-3 (19-25, 22-25, 23-25) Saturday evening on the road. The RedHawks fall to 12-7 overall and 4-2 in the Mid-American Conference. The Huskies improve to 9-9 overall and 5-1 in the MAC.
The seniors led the way for Miami on Saturday. Senior outside hitter Annie Reiswig had a team-high 13 kills in the match. She also recorded six digs and three blocks (one solo and two assisted). Senior middle hitter Jenny Ingle had 10 kills. She made only two attack errors in 17 attempts for a hitting percentage of .417.
Despite two kills each from Ingle and junior middle hitter Paige Hill, Miami found itself behind, 5-8, to begin set one. Kills from Reiswig, Hill and sophomore right side hitter Katie Tomasic off assists from freshman setter Mackenzie Zielinski helped the `Hawks pull within one at 9-10, but an 8-2 run by the Huskies put them in control at 18-12. Trailing 14-22, Miami showed a lot of heart as kills from Tomasic and Reiswig helped it pull closer, but after one final kill from Ingle, NIU scored to take a 25-19 victory.
The Huskies again opened up a lead to begin set two, this time jumping to an 11-5 advantage. Two kills from Reiswig were part of a 10-3 run that gave the RedHawks the lead at 15-14 and forced Northern Illinois to call timeout. The run ended with junior setter Krista Brakauskas scoring two straight service aces. Out of the break the teams traded points until the score was tied at 17. From there, NIU scored three straight to take the lead back. The Red and White closed to within one at 20-21, but three more in a row from the Huskies made it 24-20. A block by Hill and Tomasic, followed by a kill from sophomore outside hitter Olivia Rusek were part of another Miami comeback attempt, but NIU struck next to take a 25-22 win.
Miami jumped to a 6-2 lead to begin set three. Reiswig had two blocks and a kill during that run. Northern Illinois fought back to tie the score at eight. Tied at 11, kills from Ingle and Reiswig, along with a service ace from Brakauskas gave the RedHawks a 14-11 advantage. Miami continued to lead as back-to-back kills by Reiswig made it 21-18. After a block by Reiswig and Ingle gave Miami a 22-20 advantage, the Huskies scored four in a row to get match point at 24-22. A kill from Tomasic off an assist by Brakauskas pulled the `Hawks one point closer, but NIU scored next to take a 25-23 win and earn the victory in the match.
Tomasic had nine kills for Miami, while Hill recorded six. Brakauskas recorded a double-double with 16 assists and 13 digs, while sophomore libero Maeve McDonald led the way with 15 digs. The RedHawks out dug NIU, 61-56, but the Huskies held an 11-5 advantage in blocks.
Miami returns to action next week with a pair of home matches. The RedHawks take on Central Michigan on Thursday and Eastern Michigan on Friday. Both matches begin at 7 p.m. and will air live on ESPN3.
