Women's Volleyball

Miami Earns a 3-1 Victory over Bowling Green

Nov. 12, 2015

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BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -- The Miami University volleyball team remained focused on its goal of earning a bye in next week's Mid-American Conference Tournament as it went on the road and defeated Bowling Green, 3-1 (25-18, 19-25, 25-10, 28-26) Thursday night. The RedHawks improve to 19-9 overall and 11-4 in the MAC. The Falcons fall to 7-21 overall and 3-12 in the MAC.

Miami hit a sterling .313 for the match and was once again led by senior middle hitter Jenny Ingle. Ingle recorded 13 kills in 15 attempts and did not make a single attack error for an incredible hitting percentage of .867.

Both of the RedHawks setters played strong in the match, setting the hitters up for success while also playing a major role on the defensive side as well. Each recorded a double-double. Freshman setter Mackenzie Zielinski had 22 assists and a career-high 19 digs, while junior setter Krista Brakauskas finished with 27 assists and 14 digs. She became the 12th setter in Miami history to surpass the 2,000-assist mark for her career.

Tied at four in set one, three kills from freshman outside hitter Stela Kukoc and two from Ingle were part of an 8-2 run that put Miami in front, 12-6. The Falcons answered with a 7-4 run of their own that closed them to within three at 13-16. However back-to-back blocks, one by Kukoc and junior middle hitter Paige Hill, and a solo one from senior outside hitter Annie Reiswig put the RedHawks back in control. Ingle continued her hot hitting in the frame, putting down two more kills off assists from Brakauskas, which helped lead Miami to a 25-18 win.

Set two started out well for the `Hawks as Hill and Reiswig each put down two kills in leading the Red and White to a 7-3 advantage. Miami eventually pushed the lead to 11-6 before Bowling Green made its run. The Falcons closed to within one with a 6-2 push that made it 12-13 and forced a Miami timeout. Out of the break, sophomore right side hitter Katie Tomasic and Hill each had kills off assists from Zielinski to make it 15-12. BGSU was undeterred as it followed with an 11-1 run to take control at 23-16. Ingle and Zielinski each recorded kills in an attempt to get the RedHawks back into it, but Bowling Green went on to take a 25-19 victory.

After dropping the previous set, Miami came out inspired, jumping to a 12-2 lead. During that stretch, Hill recorded three kills, while Ingle put down two more of her own. Bowling Green got as close as eight at 6-14, but three kills from sophomore outside hitter Olivia Rusek and two from Tomasic put the set out of reach at 22-9. Junior outside hitter Maris Below finished off a dominant 25-10 win with back-to-back kills.

Miami opened up a 3-0 lead, but that would be the largest lead either team could manage in set four. Rusek recorded a pair of kills to help the RedHawks take a 6-3 advantage, but Bowling Green fought back to tie the score at seven. The teams traded the lead four more times until the score was tied at 15. The Falcons then scored three in a row to go in front 18-15 and force a Miami timeout. Out of the break, a BGSU attack error and kills from Hill and Kukoc tied the score at 18. Bowling Green went in front 21-19, but a service ace and a kill by Below followed by a kill from Rusek gave the Red and White a 22-21 lead. The teams traded side outs until a kill from Ingle made it 24-23 and gave Miami match point. The Falcons fought it off and earned a set point of their own at 25-24. Rusek just was able to just put the kill down to keep the `Hawks in the set, and after a Bowling Green score, Below put down a kill to fight off another set point and tie the set at 26. At that point, a kill from Below and a service ace by sophomore libero Maeve McDonald gave Miami a set four victory at 28-26 and a 3-1 win in the match.

Rusek tied for the team lead with 13 kills, while Hill recorded 11. Tomasic finished with seven kills, while Kukoc and Reiswig each had six. Below recorded 14 digs and McDonald had 11.

The RedHawks complete the regular season when they host Western Michigan at 7 p.m. It will be Senior Day as Ingle and Reiswig are honored in a pre-match ceremony. It will air live on ESPN3.

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