Miami Ohio University Athletics
Miami University
3-2
Marquette
2-2
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marquette | 25 | 26 | 25 | 3 |
| Miami | 14 | 24 | 16 | 0 |
Volleyball Falls in Three Sets to Marquette
9/1/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Miami University volleyball team ran into a hot-hitting Marquette offense on Friday to open play at the Hampton Inn Invitational as it dropped a 0-3 (14-25, 24-26, 16-25) decision. The RedHawks fall to 3-2 on the season, while the Golden Eagles improve to 2-2.
Sophomore outside hitter Taylor Daignault led Miami with nine kills, but the Red and White was unable to overcome a Marquette attack that hit .412 for the match.
Kills from sophomore middle hitter Margaret Payne and freshman libero Maeve McDonald, along with a service ace from freshman setter Morgan Seaman helped Miami build a 5-3 lead to begin set one. The Golden Eagles tied the score at five, but kills from sophomore middle hitter Haley Stewart and senior right side hitter Katie Tomasic put the RedHawks in front again. Trailing 6-7, Marquette went on a 10-2 run to take control at 16-9. Payne put down a kill to end the run, but the Golden Eagles kept the momentum up as they pulled away to win, 25-14.
Set two remained tight throughout. When Marquette took leads of 10-7 and 11-8, it would be the only time in the entire frame that either team had a lead of more than two points. A kill from Payne and a solo block by junior outside hitter Stela Kukoc pulled Miami to within one. The RedHawks were finally able to tie the score at 14 by forcing an attack error. Back-to-back kills from Stewart and gave MU the lead at 16-15. The teams traded the advantage a couple more times until it was tied at 22. At that point a kill from Daignault and a service ace by senior right side Courtney Bemis gave Miami set point at 24-22 and forced a Golden Eagle timeout. Marquette was able to regroup out of the break and take four points in a row to steal a 26-24 victory.
The sudden change of momentum at the end of set two seemed to hurt the RedHawks in set three, as the Golden Eagles built an 11-4 advantage. Daignault put down two kills to pull Miami to within five at 8-13. Marquette answered with an 8-3 run that put the score out of reach at 21-11. Bemis, Daignault and junior middle hitter Courtney Simons each put down kills, but the Golden Eagles were able to finish off a 25-16 win to take the match in straight sets.
Payne finished with seven kills, while Kukoc had six and Bemis recorded five. McDonald led Miami with 11 digs, while redshirt junior setter Mackenzie Zielinski finished with 19 assists.
The RedHawks will look to rebound with two matches at the Hampton Inn Invitational Saturday. Miami faces the host IUPUI at 12:30 p.m. and then will take on Wichita State at 5 p.m.
