OXFORD, Ohio – The heavyweight showdown between two first place clubs in the Miami University volleyball team and Ball State was as good as advertised, with the RedHawks coming from behind to earn a 3-2 (19-25, 25-23, 28-30, 25-18, 18-16) victory. Miami improves to 16-5 overall and 8-1 in the Mid-American Conference.

Offensively, the RedHawks remained aggressive throughout to counter a strong Ball State attack. Miami put down a season-high 77 kills, 16 more than any other match in 2018. It was led by a career-night from senior middle hitter Courtney Simons. She set a new career-high with 16 kills and only made three errors in 23 attempts for an impressive attack percentage of .565.

Freshman outside hitter Gaby Harper continued to contribute all-around with her sixth double-double of the season. She had 15 kills and 11 digs for the RedHawks. Sophomore setter Morgan Seaman also had a double-double, finishing with 30 assists and 17 digs.

Senior right side hitter Stela Kukoc had a pair of kills, while a kill from Simons off an assist by freshman setter Louise Comerford put Miami in front, 8-7, to begin set one. Despite kills from Seaman and Kukoc, Ball State was able to go on a 12-5 run to take control at 19-13. Harper recorded back-to-back kills to get the 'Hawks as close as five points at 18-22, but the Cardinals were able to finish off a 25-19 victory.

Trailing 7-10 in set two, a kill from Simons and a block by Kukoc and junior middle hitter Margaret Payne sparked a 4-0 run that gave Miami the lead. Payne had a kill, while Harper recorded a kill and two straight service aces to make it 15-12. Ball State responded with a 7-3 run to take a 19-18 lead. Trailing 19-20, back-to-back kills from Harper and Kukoc, along with a Cardinal attack error made it 22-20 in favor of the RedHawks. The teams traded side outs the rest of the way, with another kill from Kukoc finishing off a 25-23 win.

During set three Miami would trail by several points, before making a comeback each time. Kills from Harper, Simons, Kukoc and Payne would tie the score at 11, but a 7-2 run from BSU made it 18-13. The RedHawks took control with an impressive 11-3 run that gave them set point at 24-21. It was then the Cardinals turn to come back as they scored the next four to get a set point of their own. Miami fought it off with a kill by Payne to tie the score at 25. Payne fought off two more set points, while Simons put one down to tie it at 28, but two straight points from Ball State gave it a 30-28 win.

Miami was able to overcome the heartbreaking loss with a 7-3 start in set four. The Cardinals would pull within one at 8-7, but two kills from Simons were part of a 6-2 run that put the 'Hawks in control at 14-9. After BSU scored the next three in a row, Payne had three straight kills, while Seaman snuck one in to make it 18-12. That proved to be more than enough, as two kills from freshman right side hitter Sophie Riemersma and one from sophomore outside hitter Sarah Wojick helped finish off a 25-18 victory and send the match to a decisive fifth set.

A block and a kill from Wojick helped the RedHawks to a 4-2 lead to begin set five. The teams traded the lead two more times until Ball State went in front, 8-7, when the teams switched sides of the court. A kill by Simons and a block from Simons and Harper put Miami on top. The Cardinals answered with three straight to make it 11-9 and force a RedHawk timeout. Out of the break, a kill from Harper and a service ace by Seaman tied the score at 11. Tied at 12, back-to-back kills from Riemersma and Kukoc gave Miami match point. Ball State scored two in a row to level the contest once again, but the Red and White were undeterred. With the score tied at 16, a close call off a Riemersma attack was ruled out. Head Coach Carolyn Condit was able to successfully challenge that the ball landed in to make it 17-16. On the next point Simons found the back of the court to finish off a hard-fought 18-16 win and give Miami a 3-2 victory in the match.

Payne had 14 kills for Miami and a team-high four blocks. Kukoc put down 10 for the RedHawks, junior outside hitter Taylor Daignault recorded eight and Wojick and Riemersma each finished with six. Comerford had 26 assists for Miami.

The RedHawks return to action on Saturday when they host Toledo at 5 p.m.