Box Score

Box Score (PDF)

INDIANAPOLIS -- A hard-fought match that lasted nearly three hours resulted in a 3-2 (22-25, 25-20, 25-16, 16-25, 21-19) victory for the Miami University volleyball team as it downed IUPUI at the Hampton Inn Invitational Saturday. The RedHawks improve to 4-2 on the season, while the Jaguars fall to 2-4.

Senior right side hitter Katie Tomasic recorded a career-high 21 kills. She made only four errors in 43 attempts for a .395 attack percentage. As a team, Miami recorded 105 digs, led by senior libero Maeve McDonald who tied her career-high with 36.

It was an overall balanced effort for the RedHawks as four different players recorded double-doubles. Redshirt junior setter Mackenzie Zielinski had 36 assists and 10 digs, while freshman setter Morgan Seaman finished with 26 assists and 15 digs. Junior outside hitter Stela Kukoc had 10 kills and 14 digs, while sophomore outside hitter Taylor Daignault finished with 11 kills and 12 digs.

"This five-set win is the result of teamwork and resilience," said head coach Carolyn Condit. "I am proud of our passers, while our setters continue to improve. We used several athletes in different roles. It is important we both win and continue to learn - as was the case in our first match today. Our seniors led the way and came through to earn the win."

Despite a couple of kills from sophomore middle hitter Margaret Payne, IUPUI was able to build a 10-5 lead to begin set one. Two kills from sophomore middle hitter Haley Stewart, along with one from Daignault sparked an 8-2 run that put Miami on top, 13-12. The Jaguars responded with a 9-2 run of their own to take control at 21-15. The RedHawks did not give up as Tomasic put down two kills as part of a 7-1 run that tied the score at 22. The comeback was not to be as IUPUI answered with the next three in a row to take a 25-22 win.

Set two was tight early. Trailing 9-10, a kill and a service ace from Daignault put Miami on top. The lead changed four more times until Payne put one down off an assist from Zielinski gave the RedHawks an 18-17 advantage. Tomasic recorded two kills to build the lead to five at 22-17. That proved to be the final margin as a kill from Kukoc finished off the 25-20 victory and tied the match at one set apiece. Kills from Kukoc and Tomasic, along with a service ace by Daignault helped Miami jump to a 10-5 advantage in set three. The Jaguars pulled to within two at 10-12, before kills from Daignault and junior middle hitter Courtney Simons got the `Hawks offense going again. Leading 16-13, MU went on a 9-3 run to take a 25-16 win with Payne putting down the final kill.

Miami struggled to begin set four, falling behind 8-15. A service ace by McDonald and kills from Tomasic, Payne and freshman outside hitter Sarah Wojick were part of an 8-3 run that closed the RedHawks to within two at 16-18. However, IUPUI scored the next seven points in a row to take a 25-16 victory and send the match into a decisive fifth set.

Three kills from Kukoc allowed MU to take a 6-3 lead early in set five. The Jaguars scored the next five in a row to take an 8-6 advantage when the teams switched sides. With kills from Daignault and Tomasic, Miami answered with four in a row to take the lead back at 10-8. The RedHawks held serve to eventually create set point at 14-12. IUPUI was able to fight it off to tie the score at 14. The Jaguars got match point at 15-14, but a kill from Kukoc kept the `Hawks in it. Miami fought off one more match point, while IUPUI fought off two more as the score was tied at 19. Daignault put down a kill to give the RedHawks a 20-19 lead. The Jaguars then were forced into an attack error that gave Miami a 21-19 win and a 3-2 victory in the match.

Payne finished with 15 kills to give the RedHawks four different players with double-digit kills. Daignault and senior outside hitter Olivia Rusek had two blocks each.

Miami completes play at the Hampton Inn Invitational later Saturday with a match against Wichita State at 5 p.m.