Volleyball Wins Seventh Straight with 3-1 Victory Over Toledo

Saturday, October 20

Oxford, Ohio

5:00 p.m. ET

Miami University

9-117-5; MAC

Toledo

3-78-13; MAC

Toledo

Miami

Volleyball Wins Seventh Straight with 3-1 Victory Over Toledo

10/20/2018 7:49:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Toledo Box (PDF)

OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami University volleyball team upped its win streak to seven matches and took over sole possession of first place in the Mid-American Conference with a 3-1 (25-20, 25-22, 17-25, 25-17) win over Toledo Saturday afternoon. The RedHawks improve to 17-5 overall and 9-1 in the MAC. The Rockets fall to 8-13 overall and 3-7 in the MAC.

Junior outside hitter Taylor Daignault led Miami with a strong overall performance. She had a team-high 13 kills, and made it a double-double with 12 digs. Defensively the 'Hawks were led by sophomore libero Abigail Huser, who recorded a career-high 30 digs.

Three kills from senior right side hitter Stela Kukoc, along with kills from freshman outside hitter Gaby Harper and sophomore right side hitter Sarah Wojick; plus a service ace each from setters Morgan Seaman and Louise Comerford helped put Miami in front 11-7 to begin set one. The teams traded side outs until the Rockets scored to in a row to pull within two at 15-17. A pair of kills from Daignault along with one from senior middle hitter Courtney Simons ensured the RedHawks would remain in front. Leading 21-18, Daignault recorded three more kills as part of a 4-2 finish that gave Miami a 25-20 win.

Toledo jumped to an 8-4 lead to begin set two, forcing an early timeout. Out of the break, kills by Wojick, Daignault and Kukoc were part of a 7-3 run that tied the score at 11. Tied at 12, a kill from Payne and a service ace by Kukoc gave the RedHawks the lead for the first time in the set at 14-12. Toledo tied the score at 16, but back-to-back kills from Wojick and Simons put Miami on top for good. The Rockets did make it interesting in pulling to within one at 22-23, but once again there were back-to-back kills from Wojick and Simons which finalized a 25-22 win.

The Red and White fell behind 3-9 to begin set three. Playing down the entire frame, Miami just was not able to get a run going. Kills by Wojick, Daignault and Simons got the 'Hawks as close as three at 13-16, but a 6-1 run by Toledo would put the score out of reach. The Rockets took a 25-17 victory to close within one set on the scoreboard.

The RedHawks came out slow in set four with Toledo scoring the first three points. Miami would tie the score at six, before two straight points by the Rockets gave them an 8-6 advantage. Trailing 8-10, a kill from Kukoc and a service ace by Seaman sparked four straight points for the Red and White to give them a 12-10 lead. Tied at 12, a kill from Kukoc followed by back-to-back solo blocks from junior middle hitter Margaret Payne and Kukoc started a 5-0 run that made it 17-12 Miami. The teams traded side outs over the next 10 points until it was 22-17 'Hawks. At that point, back-to-back kills from Simons and Payne, followed by a block from Payne and Daignault finished off a 25-17 win and gave the RedHawks a 3-1 victory in the match.

Simons and Kukoc each had 10 kills for Miami, while Payne had eight and a team-high four blocks. Seaman led the RedHawks with 30 assists.

Miami remains at home next weekend for a pair of matches beginning with Buffalo on Friday at 7 p.m. That contest will air live on ESPN+.