OXFORD, Ohio – With lots of long rallies and back-and-forth sets, the Miami University volleyball team battled with Ohio in a five-set classic Friday evening, and it was the RedHawks coming away with a 3-2 (25-22, 21-25, 25-19, 18-25, 15-9) victory. Miami improves to 12-5 overall and 4-1 in the Mid-American Conference. The Bobcats fall to 8-10 overall and 3-2 in the MAC.

Freshmen outside hitters Gaby Harper and Sophie Riemersma had the best matches of their young careers in leading the 'Hawks to the victory. Harper had a double-double with a career-high 22 kills to go along with 14 digs. The 22 kills was the most for any Miami athlete this season and the most since Paige Hill had 24 against Kent State on Sept. 25, 2015. Riemersma recorded a career-high 15 kills and just missed a double-double with nine digs.

A kill from Harper and two kills by Riemersma helped the RedHawks take a 6-3 lead to begin set one. Despite a couple of kills from freshman middle hitter Corinne Jemison off assists from freshman setter Louise Comerford, the Bobcats were able to cut the deficit to one at 10-11. Kills from junior middle hitter Margaret Payne and sophomore setter Morgan Seaman, along with a service ace by junior libero Lindsay Dauch made it 14-10. Ohio answered with a 9-5 run to tie the score at 19. Tied at 20, back-to-back kills by Payne and Kukoc allowed Miami to regain control as it eventually earned a 25-22 win.

Set two stayed tight early as neither team could build a lead of more than two points. A kill from Payne created the 11th tie of the set at 13-all. The Bobcats then went on their first true run of the match, scoring six of the next seven points to build a 20-14 advantage. Harper responded with three straight kills as the RedHawks scored four in a row to pull within two. After Ohio scored the next two points, back-to-back kills from Harper and senior middle hitter Courtney Simons made it 20-22. That would be as close as Miami could get as the Bobcats got three of the next four points to take a 25-21 victory.

Riemersma had three kills, while Harper had two as Miami went in front 9-7 in set three. Leading 10-8, the Red and White forced several Bobcat attack errors in going on a 6-1 run to build a 16-9 lead. Ohio chipped into the deficit, answering with a 9-5 run to close with three at 18-21. A kill from Harper would end any hope of a rally. Payne finished of a 4-1 run with a kill to give the RedHawks a 25-19 win.

Ohio jumped to a 6-1 lead in set two forcing an early Miami timeout. The Bobcats remained on the attack throughout the set, eventually pushing the advantage to as much as eight points. Back-to-back kills from sophomore outside hitter Sarah Wojick cut the deficit to five points, while a block by Riemersma made it only a four-point set at 17-21. The early advantage proved to be too much to overcome as OU took a 25-18 victory and forced the match into a decisive fifth set.

The Bobcats continued that momentum into the next frame, taking a quick 4-1 lead. A kill from Riemersma sparked a 4-1 answer by the RedHawks that tied the score at five. Ohio scored the next two, but Miami responded with a 7-0 run to take control at 12-7. Riemersma had a kill and a service ace, while Harper and senior right side hitter Stela Kukoc each put down kills during that stretch. OU score two in a row to pull within three at 9-12 and force a 'Hawks timeout. Out of the break a kill from Harper and a block by Simons and Wojick put the Bobcats on the brink. They hit the next point long as Miami to a 15-9 win and a 3-2 victory in the match.

The RedHawks hit .207 for the match, while holding Ohio to a .156 attack percentage. Payne finished with seven kills, while Kukoc recorded six to go along with 13 digs. Seaman led Miami with 32 assists.

Miami returns to action on Saturday when it host Kent State at 5 p.m. That match will stream live on RedHawks All-Access for those who have as subscription.