COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The Miami University volleyball team took the first two sets, but dropped the final three in heartbreaking fashion for a tough, 2-3 (27-25, 25-21, 22-25, 23-25, 12-15), loss to Illinois State Friday evening at the Missouri Invitational. The RedHawks fall to 1-4 on the season, while the Redbirds improve to 2-3.

"We have to learn to close out set three with the same execution and team work that we had in the first two," said head coach Carolyn Condit. "Improved leadership and a higher level of consistency in each court position will get us there."

Junior right side hitter Katie Tomasic was the leader of the Miami offense on Friday. She finished with a new career-high of 16 kills. She also contributed four blocks (one solo and three assisted).

Each of the `Hawks setters finished with a double-double. Senior Krista Brakauskas had 24 assists and a career-high 22 digs. Sophomore Mackenzie Zielinski contributed 22 assists and 10 digs.

Set one remained tight throughout the first half with five lead changes. Tied at 15, a kill from sophomore outside hitter Stela Kukoc and an ISU attack error put the RedHawks up two. ISU fought back with four straight points to force a Miami timeout. Kills from sophomore middle hitter Courtney Simons, junior outside hitter Olivia Rusek and senior outside hitter Maris Below helped pull the Red and White to within one at 20-21. Trailing by two, Rusek scored with two straight service aces to tie the score. The Redbirds would get set point at 25-24, but back-to-back kills by Tomasic and Simons gave set point to Miami. An Illinois State attack error would then give the `Hawks a 27-25 win.

The RedHawks fell behind 9-13 to begin set two. They answered with a 7-0 run to take a 16-13 lead. During that stretch, Kukoc, Rusek and junior middle hitter Meredith Stutz each had kills, while Kukoc also had a service ace. Illinois State answered with a 4-1 run to tie the score, but back-to-back kills from Below sparked a 4-0 run that put Miami back in control at 21-17. The Redbirds got as close as two points, but back-to-back kills from Kukoc finished off a 25-21 victory.

Set three started out well for Miami as a kill and a service ace by Below were part of a 9-4 start. ISU answered with a 7-2 run to tie score at 11. Despite two kills from Rusek, the Redbirds eventually pulled ahead 15-13. The RedHawks fought back to tie the score at 20. Tied at 21, Illinois State scored three in a row to get set point. Kukoc put down one kill, but the Redbirds scored next to take a 25-22 win.

Neither team could build more than a two-point cushion during the majority of set four. After seven lead changes, three straight kills from Stutz put Miami in front, 17-15. Kills from Rusek and Below, along with two attack errors by Illinois State gave the RedHawks a 20-17 advantage, the first three-point lead for either team in the set. In front 21-20, back-to-back kills by Tomasic and Below seemed to put Miami in control at 23-20. The Redbirds had the answer however, following up with five consecutive points to steal a 25-23 victory and send the match to a decisive fifth set.

It looked bleak early for the RedHawks in set five after Illinois State scored the first four points. Trailing 3-6, Miami fought back to within one thanks to a kill by Kukoc and an ISU attack error. Down 6-8, Rusek and Tomasic put down back-to-back kills, while Rusek had a service ace to give the `Hawks their first lead at 9-8 and force an Illinois State timeout. The Redbirds came out of the break with a pivotal 6-1 run to create match point at 14-10. Miami fought it off twice on a Below kill and a block by Kukoc and Simons, but ISU scored next to earn a 15-12 victory and take a 3-2 win in the match.

Rusek had 12 kills, while Below and Kukoc each had 10. Kukoc made it a double-double with 12 digs. Simons led Miami with five blocks, while junior libero Maeve McDonald recorded 23 digs.

The RedHawks complete play at the Missouri Invitational Saturday when they take on the host Missouri Tigers at 1:30 p.m. (EDT).