Miami Ohio University Athletics
Miami University
14-122-5; MAC
Akron
3-128-19; MAC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | 17 | 10 | 20 | 0 |
| Miami | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Miami Sweeps Akron Friday
11/11/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
OXFORD, Ohio -- The Miami University volleyball team got back on the winning track as it cruised to a 3-0 (25-17, 25-10, 25-20) victory over Akron Friday evening. The RedHawks improve to 22-5 overall and 14-1 in the Mid-American Conference. The Zips fall to 8-19 overall and 3-12 in the MAC.
With the victory, Miami can now clinch at least a share of its first MAC regular season championship since 1998 and the top overall seed in next weekend's MAC Tournament by defeating Buffalo Saturday evening.
The RedHawk defense was the story of Friday's win. Miami held Akron to only 26 kills in the match and forced 22 attack errors. The Zips hit only .044 for the contest.
By contrast, the Red and White held a .310 attack percentage for the match. Senior middle hitter Paige Hill led the way with 11 kills. She made zero attack errors in 17 attempts for a fantastic .647 hitting percentage. Junior right side hitter Olivia Rusek was right behind her with 10 kills. She had only one error in 14 attempts for a .643 attack percentage.
Akron opened up a 7-4 advantage to begin set one. Miami fought right back with a 9-1 run to take a 13-8 lead of its own. Sophomore outside hitter Stela Kukoc had two kills during the rally, while Hill, Rusek and junior right side Katie Tomasic each had one. Two kills from Hill and one each from Tomasic and senior outside hitter Maris Below gave the `Hawks a 19-12 advantage. The Zips would close to within six at 16-22, but kills from Kukoc and Rusek off assists from sophomore setter Mackenzie Zielinski finished off a 25-17 win.
Hill put down two kills, while senior setter Krista Brakauskas recorded a service ace to give MU a 10-2 lead in set two. Akron pulled to within five at 8-13 before the RedHawks took complete control. Miami went on an 11-1 run that saw Rusek score four kills, while Kukoc recorded a kill and a service ace. After a `Hawk service error, a Hill kill finished off a dominant 25-10 victory.
The roll continued in set three as Miami scored the first seven points. The Zips answered with a 9-6 run to close within four at 9-13. The score stayed in the same vicinity as the teams traded side outs. A kill from Rusek and a pair of Akron errors gave the RedHawks match point at 24-16. The Zips were able to fight it off four times, but a final kill from Hill completed a 25-20 victory and gave Miami a straight-set win.
Below finished with seven kills, while Tomasic and Kukoc each recorded six. Zielinski led the RedHawks with 24 assists, while junior libero Maeve McDonald had 10 digs.
Miami completes the regular season against Buffalo Saturday at 5 p.m. Prior to the match, Below, Brakauskas and Hill with be honored in the annual Senior Day ceremony.
