Box Score Nov. 19, 2017 Box Score | Box Score (PDF) 
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OXFORD, Ohio -- Knowing that Western Michigan had a history of coming from behind in the Mid-American Conference Tournament, the Miami University volleyball team left no doubt as it took a 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-18) win in the MAC Tournament Championship in front of an excited home crowd on Sunday. The RedHawks improve to 23-8 on the season and win the tournament title for the first time since 2007. The Broncos finish the year 18-13.
"Western is a great team," said head coach Carolyn Condit. "We knew we had to come out and serve and pass well and keep a determination for three straight sets and that's what we did. I am very proud of my team."
Senior outside hitter Olivia Rusek took home MAC Tournament MVP honors after her second straight strong performance. She finished with a team-high 13 kills on Sunday, hitting a .355 attack percentage. She also had six digs and two blocks. During set one she recorded her 1000th-career kill, becoming the 21st of Miami's 1,000-kill club.
Sophomore outside hitter Taylor Daignault and senior libero Maeve McDonald joined Rusek on the MAC All-Tournament Team. Daiganult had seven kills, nine digs and two aces against WMU, while McDonald led Miami with 22 digs.
Kills by senior right side hitter Katie Tomasic, senior middle hitter Meredith Stutz and Rusek helped Miami jump to a 5-1 lead to begin set one. Kills from sophomore middle hitter Margaret Payne, junior right side hitter Stela Kukoc and Daignault kept the momentum going as the `Hawks increased their advantage to 14-8. The Broncos fought back with a 9-4 run that pulled them to within one at 17-18. Kukoc and freshman setter Morgan Seaman responded with kills that got Miami rolling again. After kills from Daignault and Rusek created set point, Tomasic put down a kill off an assist from redshirt junior Mackenzie Zielinski to finish off a 25-21 win.
Tied at nine in set two, a block by Stutz and Tomasic, a service ace from Daignault and a solo block by Rusek forced Western Michigan to call timeout. Out of the break, Rusek had two more kills as Miami was able to increase the advantage to seven at 18-11. The Broncos cut the deficit to four with three straight points before a kill from Rusek and a block by Kukoc made it 20-14. That proved to be more than enough as the RedHawks finished off a 25-20 victory with a Payne kill.
Miami came out determined to finish the match in set three. Two kills from Rusek, along with kills from Daignault, Kukoc and Stutz helped the Red and White take a 9-6 advantage. WMU fought back to tie the score at 11. Kills from Stutz and Rusek and blocks by Tomasic, Rusek and Payne pushed the advantage to 15-11. After the Broncos scored, three straight from the `Hawks gave them a six-point cushion at 18-12. Western Michigan had one last fight in them as it scored six in a row to tie the score at 18. A kill from Rusek from an assist from Seaman put Miami back on top. That got the RedHawks going again as Kukoc put down three kills during the closing stretch. It was followed by a kill from Daignault that finished off a 25-18 victory and gave Miami the MAC Championship in straight sets.
The RedHawks hit .215 for the match and held the Broncos to a .074 attack percentage. Miami out blocked WMU 9-8, with Stutz, Tomasic and Kukoc leading the way with three blocks each.
The RedHawks will learn their NCAA Tournament fate when they watch the selection show on Sunday, Nov. 26 at 9 p.m. on ESPNU. Miami's First Round match will take place either Thursday, Nov. 30 or Friday, Dec. 1.
