OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami University volleyball team dropped the final two sets as it fell to Eastern Michigan, 2-3 (25-19, 21-25, 25-19, 15-25, 8-15) in the Mid-American Conference Championship match on Sunday. The RedHawks fall to 22-8 overall, while the Eagles improve to 21-13 and earn the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

At the conclusion of the event, freshman outside hitter Sophie Riemersma and junior middle hitter Margaret Payne were each named to the MAC All-Tournament Team. Riemersma finished with 13 kills and nine digs against EMU on Sunday to complete a remarkable two-day performance. She recorded 42 kills, an average of 4.20 per set. She finished with a .330 attack percentage. She also 26 digs, an average of 2.60 digs per set and eight service aces. Riemersma scored 52.0 points in the two matches.

Payne led Miami with 14 kills and five blocks on Sunday. For the tournament, the junior recorded 30 kills, an average of 3.00 per set. She also put down eight blocks (one solo and seven assisted) an average of 0.80 per set.

A pair of kills and a block from Payne helped Miami jump to a 5-2 lead to begin set one. Senior middle hitter Courtney Simons had back-to-back kills off assists from freshman setter Louise Comerford to give the RedHawks an 8-6 advantage. Eastern Michigan answered with a 9-5 run to take a 15-13 lead. Trailing 14-16, a kill from Simons and a service ace by Riemersma tied the score. Tied at 17, another kill from Simons and a service ace by junior libero Lindsay Dauch got Miami's offense rolling. Two straight kills from sophomore outside hitter Sarah Wojick made it six straight points and gave the 'Hawks a 23-17 lead. The teams traded side outs from there, will a kill from freshman outside hitter Gaby Harper off an assist from sophomore setter Morgan Seaman finishing off a 25-19 win.

The Eagles held an 8-5 lead in set two before a kill from Wojick and a block by Riemersma and Payne started a 6-3 run that tied the score at 11. Eastern Michigan regained the advantage, but Miami was able to retie the score at 16. EMU scored the next 3, but a 4-1 run capped by a kill from freshman middle hitter Corinne Jemison again tied the score at 20. Tied at 21, the Eagles scored the final four points in a row to take a 25-21 victory.

Set three started out poorly for Miami, as Eastern Michigan took a 5-1 lead. Riemersma got her swing working, putting down three kills, while a kill from senior right side hitter Stela Kukoc and a service ace by Riemersma put Miami on top, 8-7. Harper had three kills as the RedHawks increased the advantage to 13-10. Leading 14-13, three straight kills from Riemersma gave Miami a four-point advantage and forced an EMU timeout. Out of the break, the Eagles were able to pull within two at 18-20, but a kill and a block by Payne started a 5-1 rally that finished off a 25-19 victory and gave the RedHawks a 2-1 lead in the match.

Eastern Michigan came out on the attack in set four, building an 8-2 lead. Payne put down a kill as Miami scored the next two, but the Eagles pulled away with a 10-4 run. The advantage grew to as many as 11 points at 21-10, before the RedHawks attempted a comeback thanks to a kill from Riemersma and a service ace by Comerford. However the deficit was too much to overcome and EMU finished off a 25-15 win.

Payne had two kills as the teams traded side outs over the first five points of set five, which gave Eastern Michigan a 3-2 lead. The Eagles then followed with a 7-1 run that put them in control at 10-3 and forced a Miami timeout. Kukoc had a pair of kills, while Riemersma also recorded two as the 'Hawks were able to pull within six at 7-13. Again the deficit was just too big and Eastern Michigan took the MAC Championship with a 15-8 victory.

Harper just missed a double-double with nine kills and 15 assists. Comerford led Miami with 28 assists, while Seaman had a double-double with 26 assists and 12 digs. Dauch recorded a career-high with 25 digs.

The RedHawks now will await to see if their resume merits selection to the National Invitational Volleyball Championship. That selection will come next Sunday evening.