Oct. 30, 2015 Box Score | Box Score (PDF) 
OXFORD, Ohio -- The Miami University volleyball team was on top of its game as it ended a 12-match winless streak against Ohio with a 3-0 (25-18, 25-16, 25-22) victory over the Bobcats on Friday. The RedHawks improve to 16-8 overall and 8-3 in the Mid-American Conference. Ohio falls to 19-5 overall and 9-2 in the MAC.
Miami's overall defensive game plan led it to the victory. Time and again the RedHawks were able to get the tough digs and force the Bobcats into several attack errors. MU held Ohio to a .037 attack percentage for the match and outblocked it, 15-3.
Individually, sophomore libero Maeve McDonald and junior middle hitter Paige Hill led the Red and White's defense. McDonald had a team-leading 24 out of Miami's 69 total digs in the three sets. Hill finished with eight blocks, four of which were of the solo variety.
Solo blocks from Hill and junior outside hitter Maris Below, along with two kills from senior outside hitter Annie Reiswig helped the RedHawks open up an 8-3 advantage to begin set one. Ohio fought back to pull within two at 7-9, but back-to-back kills by sophomore right side hitter Katie Tomasic put Miami back in control. Kills from senior middle hitter Jenny Ingle and Reiswig, along with solo blocks by Reiswig and Hill were part of an overall 11-5 run that made it 20-12. The Bobcats scored the next four to pull within four, but a kill from Hill off an assist from freshman setter Mackenzie Zielinski and a kill from Ingle off an assist from junior setter Krista Brakauskas were part of a 5-2 finish that gave MU a 25-18 win.
Two kills apiece from Reiswig and Hill put Miami on another strong start as it took an 8-3 lead to begin set two. In front 11-8, two kills each from sophomore outside hitter Olivia Rusek and Hill were part of a 5-3 spurt that made it 16-11. OU scored next, but back-to-back kills from Tomasic and Ingle got the RedHawks back in control. With the score 19-15, Miami's defense forced Ohio into several attack errors as it went on a 6-1 run to close out a 25-16 victory. The set was clinched with a solo block by Rusek off of a Bobcat attack.
OU came out of the intermission focused and built an 8-5 lead to begin set three. Ingle put down three kills to help the RedHawks tie the score at 10, but the Bobcats eventually took the lead again at 14-12. A kill from Reiswig, a solo block by Hill and an Ohio attack error put the RedHawks in front, 15-14. The teams traded points, but Miami would not let OU regain the advantage. Tied at 18, a kill from freshman outside hitter Stela Kukoc and a service ace by Below gave the Red and White a 20-18 lead. With the score 22-20, the Bobcats scored two in a row to tie the score. Hill though would not be denied as she finished with two blocks and a kill to give the RedHawks a 25-22 win and a victory for the match in straight sets.
Hill led Miami with 12 kills. She made only two attack errors in 23 attempts for a .435 hitting percentage. Reiswig finished with 10 kills and four blocks, while Ingle recorded seven kills and two blocks. Each setter had a double-double for Miami on the night. Zielinski led the `Hawks with 20 assists and 13 digs, while Brakauskas finished with 13 assists and 12 digs.
The RedHawks return to action with another important MAC match on Saturday. Miami hosts Kent State at 5 p.m. in Millett Hall. The match will air live on ESPN3.