Box Score

Box Score (PDF)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - A momentum changing end to the third set proved to be the difference in a back-and-forth match as the Miami University volleyball team fell to Louisville, 1-3 (25-21, 18-25, 24-26, 10-25) to conclude play at the Illini Classic on Saturday. The RedHawks fall to 0-3 on the season, while the Cardinals improve to 2-1.

At the conclusion of the tournament, sophomore right side hitter Katie Tomasic was named to the All-Tournament Team. Against Louisville she recorded six kills. For the weekend Tomasic had 22 kills (an average of 1.83 per set) to go along with four blocks.

Miami came out strong in set one, as kills from sophomore right side hitter Meredith Stutz, senior middle hitter Jenny Ingle and Tomasic helped the `Hawks open up a 9-6 lead. Senior outside hitter Annie Reiswig continued the attack with a pair of kills of her own to extend the advantage to 12-6. The RedHawks' offense went cold from there, as the Cardinals went on a 13-5 run to take the lead at 19-17. MU fought right back with back-to-back kills from Ingle and sophomore outside hitter Olivia Rusek as part of a 5-1 run that put it ahead, 22-20. UL scored the next point, but a kill from Ingle, a block by Ingle and Tomasic and an attack error by the Cardinals gave Miami a 25-21 win.

Tied at five in set two, a 7-3 run by Louisville put it in front, 12-8. Kills from Stutz and junior middle hitter Paige Hill, along with a service ace from freshman setter Mackenzie Zielinski helped pull the `Hawks to within one at 13-14, but a decisive 9-3 run after that from the Cardinals put them in control of the set. Hill and Rusek would team up for a block, while Hill would have a kill off an assist from sophomore setter Krista Brakauskas, but Miami could not get closer as it fell, 18-25.

Set three started out poorly for the RedHawks as they fell behind 3-10. Back-to-back kills from Stutz and Reiswig, along with two kills from Rusek and one from Hill helped Miami get a little closer at 10-15. The Red and White kept chipping away until a solo block from Ingle pulled them to within one at 15-16. Ingle would eventually tie the score at 17 with a kill, while a kill from Tomasic a few points later gave Miami its first lead of the set at 20-19. Tied at 20, two straight kills from Hill put the RedHawks in control at 22-20. The teams traded three straight sideouts to make it 23-22 in favor of Miami. The Cardinals got a block to tie the score, but Hill answered with a kill to create set point. A service error retied the score, and Louisville answered with the next two points to take a 26-24 win and a 2-1 lead in the match.

The quick turnaround at the end of set three seemed to change the momentum in favor of the Cardinals in set four. Louisville scored the first seven points of the set and eventually expanded its lead to 12-3. Stutz and Rusek each tried to get Miami back into it with kills, but the Cardinals kept attacking and got the advantage to 12 at 21-9. The RedHawks would not get any closer as Louisville took the last set 25-10 and the match, 3-1.

A very balanced offensive attack for Miami saw Hill led with eight kills, while Rusek had seven. Tomasic, Reiswig, Stutz and Ingle each had six. Zielinski had a double-double with 17 assists and 12 digs.

As a team, the RedHawks had 12 blocks in the match, led by Reiswig, who had five (four solo and one assisted) and Hill, who had four (two solo and two assisted).

Miami returns to action on Tuesday when it hosts Wright State for its annual "Meet the Team" night at 7 p.m. At the conclusion of the match, there will be the opportunity to talk to and hear from the members of the 2015 RedHawks on the concourse. For those who cannot be in attendance, the match will be broadcast live on ESPN3, Steve Baker and Lisa Dankovich will have the call.