Miami Ohio University Athletics
Miami University
8-5
Loyola University Chicago
1-9
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loyola | 15 | 15 | 23 | 0 |
| Miami | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Volleyball Sweeps Loyola, 3-0
9/16/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
WEST LAFYETTE, Ind. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃÆ'¢'¬" The Miami University volleyball team closed out non-conference play with a dominant 3-0 (25-15, 25-15, 25-23) victory over Loyola (Chi.) Saturday at the Stacey Clark Classic. The RedHawks improve to 8-5 on the season, while the Ramblers fall to 1-9.
All phases of the game were working for Miami on Saturday. The offense made only nine attack errors in 107 attempts, finishing with a hitting percentage of .271. On the flip side, the 'Hawks forced Loyola into 20 attack errors in 111 attempts as it finished with a hitting percentage of only .117.
Senior outside hitter Olivia Rusek had two kills, while senior middle hitter Meredith Stutz put down one to help Miami take a 7-2 lead to begin set one and force an early timeout. Out of the break Stutz had another kill, while freshman setter Morgan Seaman had a service ace that eventually increased the advantage to 10 at 14-4. The Ramblers fought back with six in a row to pull the score to 10-14 and force a RedHawk timeout. LU kept it close out of the break, closing to within three at 14-17. Miami then forced the Ramblers into several attack errors, while Rusek recorded two kills as part of an 8-1 run that closed out a 25-15 victory.
A service ace from junior outside hitter Stela Kukoc and a kill from Stutz were part of a 4-0 start for the RedHawks in set two. Miami kept up the pressure as sophomore middle hitter Margaret Payne had a couple of kills, while Rusek had a service ace of her own to increase the lead to 14-7 and compel the Ramblers to use both of their timeouts. Two kills and a block from senior right side hitter Katie Tomasic were part of a 7-2 run that gave Miami its largest lead at 21-9. From there the Red and White were able to cruise to another 25-15 win.
Set three was tighter than then the first two frames. Despite that, two kills each from Kukoc and Rusek helped put the RedHawks on top 10-8. Loyola fought back to take a 12-11 advantage, but back-to-back kills from junior middle hitter Courtney Simons and senior right side hitter Courtney Bemis put MU on top once again. Bemis and Kukoc recorded back-to-back kills to help the RedHawks to a 16-13 lead. Trailing 15-18, the Ramblers answered with a 7-2 run to take a 22-20 lead and force a Miami timeout. Out of the break, Rusek and Simons had kills, while Rusek followed with a service ace to make it 23-22. After a Loyola timeout, a Rambler attack error gave the 'Hawks match point. LU fought it off once, but Kukoc put down a final kill to finish off a 25-23 victory and give Miami a 3-0 win in the match.
Rusek led the RedHawks with nine kills, while Kukoc and Stutz each finished with seven. Redshirt junior setter Mackenzie Zielinski had 20 assists, while senior libero Maeve McDonald finished with 13 digs.
Miami begins Mid-American Conference play on Thursday when it hosts Bowling Green at 7 p.m. The match will air live on ESPN3.
