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OXFORD, Ohio-- The Miami University volleyball team used another gritty performance to earn a 3-1 (25-15, 25-22, 17-25, 25-20) victory over Eastern Michigan Friday evening. The RedHawks improve to 14-7 overall and 6-2 in the Mid-American Conference. The Eagles fall to 11-9 overall and 3-4 in the MAC.

Miami did not have one of its best offensive nights, attacking at a .222 percentage. The RedHawks made up for it by holding EMU to a .102 attack percentage for the match. That included out-blocking the Eagles, 12-6. Sophomore outside hitter Olivia Rusek and junior middle hitter Paige Hill led MU with four blocks each.

Senior middle hitter Jenny Ingle led the Miami offense with 12 kills. She made only two errors in 19 attempts for an attack percentage of .526. She also contributed two blocks (one solo and one assisted) on the night.

Senior outside hitter Annie Reiswig had her second double-double of the season when she finished with 12 kills and 10 digs. She also joined in the block party, recording three (two solo and one assisted).

The teams traded several side outs as neither team could build a lead of more than two points during the first half of set one. Trailing 10-11, back-to-back kills from sophomore right side hitter Katie Tomasic and Reiswig, along with an EMU attack error put Miami in front, 13-11. The Eagles scored the next point, but a 7-3 run by the RedHawks put them in control at 20-14. Eastern Michigan ended that run with a kill, but five straight points, including two blocks from Rusek and one from Hill, finished off a 25-15 victory.

The Eagles built an 8-5 advantage to begin set two. Kills from Ingle and Reiswig, along with several EMU attack errors helped Miami pull to within one at 10-11. However, Eastern Michigan quickly pushed the lead back to four at 15-11. Ingle and Hill each had two kills to make it a one point match once again at 15-16, but the Eagles again made it a three-point set at 19-16. At that point, kills from Ingle, Rusek and junior outside hitter Maris Below, along with a block from Rusek put the RedHawks back in front at 20-19. Tied at 20, a kill from Below off an assist from junior setter Krista Brakauskas got the Red and White offense moving once again. Freshman setter Mackenzie Zielinski had a service ace and assisted on two Hill kills to give Miami a 25-22 win.

The RedHawks came out flat after the intermission and fell behind, 3-12, to begin set three. Tomasic and Reiswig each had kills, but Eastern Michigan eventually pushed the lead to 21-9. The RedHawks did not give up as freshman middle hitter Courtney Simons recorded two kills, while Reiswig and Zielinski each had one, but the deficit was too much to make up as the Eagles took a 25-17 victory.

Knowing they had to play better coming out in set four, Miami jumped to a 12-2 lead. During that stretch, Hill had two kills and a block, while Reiswig also recorded two kills. EMU answered with a 7-4 response to pull within seven at 9-16. Rusek and Reiswig each had kills, but the Eagles continued to claw back into it, closing to within four at 14-18 and forcing a Miami timeout. Two Eastern Michigan errors and a kill by Ingle gave the RedHawks a seven-point advantage once again, but a 4-1 run by the Eagles closed them to within four at 18-22. Kills by Rusek and Hill gave Miami set point at 24-19. EMU scored next, but a kill from Rusek off an assist from Zielinski finished off a 25-20 win and gave the RedHawks a 3-1 victory in the match.

Hill finished with 10 kills, while Rusek had seven and Tomasic recorded six. Both setters finished with double-doubles and identical statistics. Zielinski and Brakauskas each had 24 assists and 10 digs on the night. Sophomore libero Maeve McDonald led Miami with 18 digs.

The RedHawks return to action next Friday when they travel to Ball State for a 7 p.m. match.