OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami University volleyball team battled back-and-forth with UC Santa Barbara through five sets at the Miami Best Western Sycamore Inn Invitational on Saturday morning, but the RedHawks ultimately dropped a 2-3 (22-25, 25-22, 25-18, 21-25, 12-15) decision. Miami falls to 1-1 on the season, while the Gauchos improve to 1-1.

Senior outside hitter Stela Kukoc led the RedHawk attack with a double-double of 14 kills and 14 digs. Junior middle hitter Margaret Payne put down 12 kills, while freshman outside hitter Gaby Harper recorded her first career double-double with 11 kills and 12 digs. Ultimately Miami could not overcome UC Santa Barbara All-American Lindsey Ruddins, who finished with 27 kills and 13 digs.

Kukoc came out swinging in set one, recording four early kills. Despite that, UCSB built a 14-10 advantage. Payne and Kukoc each put down kills, but the RedHawks were unable to get a run going. Kills from senior middle hitter Courtney Simons and Harper helped Miami cut the deficit to two at 20-22, but the 'Hawks could not get over the hump as the Gauchos took the first set, 25-22.
Miami jumped to a 9-4 advantage to begin set two. Kukoc had two kills and a service ace during the run, while Harper, Payne, Simons and sophomore outside hitter Sarah Wojick each put one down. UC Santa Barbara slowly chipped into the lead, eventually tying the score at 18. The RedHawks regained the advantage with a 3-0 run. That proved to be the difference as the teams traded points until Miami took a 25-22 win.

Kills by Harper, Kukoc and junior right side hitter Haley Stewart were part of a 9-5 start in set three. A kill and a block from freshman middle hitter Corinne Jemison and a kill by Payne extended the advantage to 14-8 and forced a Gaucho timeout. After UCSB scored out of the break, a kill and block by Stewart made it 16-9 Miami. The RedHawks maintained that advantage throughout the remainder of the set as two kills by Harper off assists from sophomore setter Morgan Seaman finished off a 25-18 victory.

The RedHawks had a strong start in set four as kills by Stewart, Payne and Kukoc helped them to a 5-2 lead. UC Santa Barbara responded with a 7-2 run to take a 9-7 advantage. The Gauchos eventually pushed the advantage to five at 16-11 before a kill from Stewart ended the run. However Miami was unable to get any closer than three points the rest of the way as UCSB sent the match to a fifth set with a 25-21 win.

The teams traded the first seven points of set five until a kill by Ruddins gave the Gauchos a 5-3 lead. A kill from Wojick off an assist from freshman setter Jennifer Schulze and a UCSB attack error tied the score at five. The Gauchos scored four in a row to take control at 9-5 and force a RedHawk timeout. Out of the break Wojick put down a kill but UC Santa Barbara was able to push the lead to five at 12-7. Two kills from Payne and one from Stewart pulled Miami to within two. The Gauchos scored the next two to get match point. The RedHawks fought it off twice with a kill by Payne and a UCSB attack error, but a final kill from Ruddins finished off a 15-12 win and UC Santa Barbara a 3-2 victory in the match.

Junior libero Lindsay Dauch led Miami with 19 digs, while Seaman finished with a double-double of 29 assists and 12 digs. Payne recorded four blocks for the 'Hawks.

Miami completes play at its home Best Western Sycamore Inn Invitational with a match against Cincinnati later Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The match will air live on ESPN+.