AUBURN, Ala. -- The Miami University volleyball team was behind in nearly every set, and at one point fought off three match points, but showed a lot of heart to come all the way back and earn a thrilling, 3-2 (17-25, 25-22, 26-28, 26-24, 15-11) victory over the host Auburn Tigers at the Auburn Invitational Friday evening. The RedHawks improve to 5-4 on the season, while the Tigers fall to 4-5.

"The persistence and resilience of this team's performance tonight was remarkable," said head coach Carolyn Condit. "There is something special about how they find a way out of tight moments. Auburn is very talented and pushed us hard. It is a great night to be a RedHawk!"

Senior outside hitter Maris Below had one of the best all-around matches of her career. She tied a career-high with 18 kills and made it a double-double with 15 digs. She was joined in double-digit kills by junior right side hitter Katie Tomasic, who finished with 16.

The Miami defense proved to be a key factor in the victory, especially picking it up in the later sets. The Red and White out-dug Auburn, 90-88, led by junior libero Maeve McDonald, who finished with 26. Both setters recorded double-doubles, as sophomore Mackenzie Zielinski recorded 32 assists and 15 digs, while senior Krista Brakauskas had 22 assists and 13 digs. The RedHawk defense also had 10 blocks on the night.

Below and junior outside hitter Olivia Rusek each had kills to help Miami keep set one close early. In front 11-9, Auburn went on a 7-2 run to take control at 18-11. Kills by Rusek and Below along with a Tiger attack error pulled the `Hawks to within three and forced the home team to take timeout. That seemed to rejuvenate Auburn as despite two kills from Tomasic, the Tigers finished off a 25-17 win.

Kills by Tomasic, Below and senior middle hitter Paige Hill allowed the RedHawks to take a 6-4 lead to begin set two. With Miami on top, 9-8, Auburn went on a 9-4 run to take a 17-13 advantage. The Red and White scored the next two to pull within two, but four straight points from the Tigers gave them a 21-15 lead as they were seemingly on their way a 2-0 advantage in the match. But, as would be the theme of the night, the RedHawks fought back. With sophomore outside hitter Stela Kukoc serving, Miami scored nine points in a row to take a 24-21 lead. During that stretch, Below had two kills, while Kukoc put down two service aces. Auburn ended the run with a kill on the next point, but Below scored again off an assist from Zielinski to take a 25-22 victory and tie the match at one.

Trailing 4-8 in set three, Tomasic had three kills as part of an 8-5 run that closed the `Hawks to within three points at 12-13 in set three. The Tigers pushed the lead back to four at 17-13, but a block by Rusek and junior middle hitter Meredith Stutz and one by Hill and Rusek were part of a 7-3 run that tied the score at 20. Trailing 22-23, Kukoc and Hill had solo blocks to create set point. Auburn fought it off and got a set point of its own. This time Rusek put down a kill off an assist from Brakauskas to tie the score at 26. The comeback was not to be this time as the Tigers scored two in a row to take a 28-26 win.

Set four was bleak early as Auburn opened up a 13-9 lead. Hill and Stutz each had kills, while Brakauskas recorded a service ace, but the Tigers maintained that advantage at 18-14. Miami fought back to tie the score at 18. The teams traded side outs until it was tied at 21. At that point, Auburn got three points in a row to get match point at 24-21. The RedHawks fought off the first one by forcing the Tigers into an attack error. Then Below made sure the match would not end as she recorded back-to-back kills. Another attack error gave MU a set point of its own. Hill and Below completed the remarkable comeback with a block that gave Miami a 26-24 victory and sent the match to a deciding fifth set.

Not wanting to have to make another comeback, Tomasic recorded three kills to give the RedHawks a 5-2 lead to begin set five. Despite kills from Below and Tomasic, the Tigers pulled to within one at 6-7. Below did not let them tie the score as she recorded the next point. In front, 10-9, back-to-back kills from Tomasic and Below gave Miami some breathing room. Four straight side outs made it 13-11. A service error from Auburn gave the `Hawks match point. The Miami defense made sure to take advantage as Rusek and Stutz combined for a block to finish off the 15-11 win and give the RedHawks a 3-2 win in the match.

Miami had 13 kills and made only one error in 15 attempts to hit an amazing .800 in set five.

Rusek recorded nine kills on the night, Hill finished with eight and six blocks (one solo and five assisted). Kukoc put down six kills and 10 digs to go along with a team-high three service aces. The RedHawks hit .246 for the match, while holding the Tigers to a .220 attack percentage.

Miami looks to earn the tournament title at the Auburn Invitational when it completes play against Memphis on Saturday at noon (EDT).