DAYTON, Ohio -- The Miami University volleyball team came from behind to take a first set victory, but the host Dayton Flyers rebounded to take the next three sets as the RedHawks fell 1-3 (25-19, 20-25, 22-25, 17-25) Tuesday evening. Miami is now 1-3 on the season, while Dayton improves to 4-0.

Junior right side hitter Katie Tomasic and sophomore outside hitter Stela Kukoc led the way for the RedHawks with 11 kills apiece in the match. Senior outside hitter Maris Below had a strong overall match as a six-rotation player, finishing with nine kills and 19 digs.

"Tonight we played some of our best volleyball in a tough environment," said head coach Carolyn Condit. "Great teams prove consistency over several sets - as long as it takes. We must continue to work toward this as a team to reach our goals."

Set one featured five early lead changes, capped off by a block from Kukoc and senior middle hitter Paige Hill that put Miami on top, 12-11. Dayton scored four of the next five points to take a 15-13 lead. Tomasic put down two kills, but the Flyers increased the advantage to 18-15 to force a RedHawk timeout. The break completely changed the momentum as Miami went on to score the next nine points in a row despite the Flyers taking two timeouts of their own. Led by junior libero Maeve McDonald's strong serve, Kukoc and junior middle hitter Meredith Stutz each had two kills during the stretch. UD finally brought the run to an end, but a kill from Kukoc off an assist by sophomore setter Mackenzie Zielinski gave the `Hawks a 25-19 victory.

Two kills from Tomasic, along with kills from junior outside hitter Olivia Rusek and Stutz helped put Miami in front 5-1 to begin set two. Dayton followed with a 12-5 run that put it in charge at 13-10. Kukoc answered with a kill, but the Flyers eventually took a seven-point advantage at 19-12. The Red and White were able to get as close as four points, but could not quite get over the hump as Dayton finished off a 25-20 win.

Two kills from Hill helped Miami jump to a 6-4 advantage in set three. The lead would be short-lived however, as the Flyers answered with an 11-4 run to take a 15-10 lead. Tomasic put down two more kills, while a kill from Kukoc off an assist from senior setter Krista Brakauskas pulled the RedHawks to within three at 18-21. A Dayton attack error on the next point made it a two-point set. From there, the teams traded side outs until it was set point at 24-21. Miami fought it off once with a Tomasic kill, but the Flyers scored next to take a 25-22 victory.

Tomasic, Zielinski and Rusek had early kills, but a slow start for the `Hawks saw them fall behind 4-10 in set four. Freshman middle hitter Margaret Payne and Below each put one to the floor, but the Flyers still led 14-8 midway through the set. Kukoc had back-to-back kills, that started a 5-1 run to get Miami to within two at 13-15, but that would be as close as the RedHawks could get. A 6-1 run put Dayton in control at 21-14. A Flyer attack error and kills from Kukoc and Payne pulled Miami to within four, but UD closed with four straight points of its own to finish off a 25-17 win and take the match, 3-1.

Zielinski finished with a double-double of 25 assists and 13 digs. McDonald led the RedHawks with 24 digs.

Miami travels to Columbia, Missouri this weekend to participate in the Missouri Invitational. The Red and White will take on Illinois State on Friday at 5 p.m. (EDT) and the host Missouri Tigers on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. (EDT).