Volleyball Advances in NIVC with Sweep of NKU

Thursday, November 29

Oxford, Ohio

8:00 p.m. ET

Miami University

23-8

Northern Kentucky (First Round)

21-10

Northern Kentucky

Miami

Volleyball Advances in NIVC with Sweep of NKU

11/29/2018 10:05:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score NKU Box (PDF)

RedHawks win postseason match for first time since 1998

OXFORD, Ohio – For the first time since 1998, the Miami University volleyball team earned a postseason victory as it cruised to a 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-22) win over Northern Kentucky Thursday in the first round of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship. The RedHawks improve to 23-8 overall, while the Norse finish the year at 21-10.

It was a complete team effort, led by the Miami defense. The RedHawks held an 8-2 block advantage, and allowed only a .083 attack percentage by NKU. Sophomore libero Abigail Huser finished with a team-high 15 digs, while freshman outside hitter Gaby Harper had 14 digs and five blocks. Sophomore setter Morgan Seaman recorded a double-double with 21 assists and 10 digs.

Offensively, middle hitters junior Margaret Payne and senior Courtney Simons, along with freshman outside hitter Sophie Riemersma led the way. Payne put down 12 kills on the night. She made no attack errors in 17 attempts for a blistering .706 hitting percentage. Riemersma tied for the team lead with 12 kills, and made it a double-double with 10 digs. Simons finished with eight kills, a .538 attack percentage and five blocks.

Despite not having played for the past 11 days, Miami showed no signs of rust in set one. A service ace by Harper, along with three kills from Payne and two by Riemersma helped the RedHawks jump to an 8-4 lead. After NKU scored the next two, a kill from Simons and a block by Simons and junior right side hitter Haley Stewart began a 6-1 run that put Miami in control at 14-7 and forced a Norse timeout. Out of the break, a kill by Stewart along with two straight from Riemersma saw the Red and White extend its lead to 11 at 20-9. That proved to be more than enough as a block by Harper and Simons would finish off a 25-14 win.

Senior right side hitter Stela Kukoc had two kills, one off an assist from Seaman and another off an assist from freshman setter Louise Comerford as Miami took a 6-3 lead to begin set two. Riemersma had three more kills, while Kukoc had a service ace to help the 'Hawks extend the advantage to 14-7. After the Norse scored next, a service error, followed by two kills from Harper and a NKU attack error gave Miami an 18-8 lead. Northern Kentucky did not give up, scoring the next four in a row to pull within six. However, the RedHawks quickly pushed the advantage back to nine, and a kill from freshman middle hitter Corinne Jemison gave them a 25-18 victory.

Set three was much tighter as NKU took an 8-6 lead early. A kill from Simons, followed by back-to-back blocks by Harper and Simons put Miami on top once again. Payne and Riemersma had two kills each to help the RedHawk push the advantage to 16-11. The Norse followed with a 6-2 run to pull within one at 17-18 and force a Miami timeout. Out of the break Riemersma recorded a kill, but NKU was able to tie the score at 20. Tied at 22, a block from Stewart and Payne got momentum back on the RedHawks side. Payne put down a kill and then had a solo block to finish off a 25-22 win and give Miami a straight-set victory.

The RedHawks had a .225 attack percentage in the victory. Harper finished with six kills, while Kukoc had four. Comerford recorded 16 assists.

Miami will next take on Valparaiso Friday in the second round of the NIVC. The Crusaders knocked off Ball State, 3-1, in their first round match on Thursday. First serve is at 7 p.m. and it will be streamed on RedHawks All-Access for those who have a subscription.