CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Miami University volleyball team used great defensive efforts and some timely offense late in sets to take a 3-1 (25-23, 25-19, 16-25, 25-23) victory over Murray State to open play at the Saluki Invitational on Friday. The RedHawks improve to 3-1 on the season, while the Racers fall to 2-2.

Miami held MSU to a .169 attack percentage in the match, recording 83 digs and eight blocks. It was led defensively by junior libero Taylor Daignault with a career-high 25 digs. Right behind her was senior right side hitter Stela Kukoc, who set a career high of her own with 22 digs.

Freshman outside hitter Gaby Harper continued the remarkable start to her career with another strong all-around performance on Saturday. She recorded her second career double-double with 15 kills and 16 digs. Harper also led Miami with four blocks (one solo, three assisted).

"Our defense really stepped up to this win," said head coach Carolyn Condit. "Taylor is really gorwing into the libero role and she along with Stela set new career records (in digs)."

A pair of kills from Harper, along with kills from Kukoc and freshman middle hitter Corinne Jemison helped Miami build a 7-2 advantage in set one. Murray State battled back, eventually tying the score at 13. The teams traded side outs until the Racers scored three in a row to take a 19-17 lead and force a RedHawk timeout. Out of the break, a kill from senior middle hitter Courtney Simons off an assist from freshman setter Jennifer Schulze and a kill from junior middle hitter Margaret Payne off an assist from sophomore setter Morgan Seaman were part of four straight points that put MU back on top, 21-19. From there the teams traded side outs the rest of the way until a kill from Payne gave the 'Hawks a 25-23 victory.

It was a tight start to set two as a block from Simons and Harper gave Miami a 6-4 lead, the first two-point advantage in either direction. Neither team could build a lead bigger than that until the RedHawks scored three in a row to make it 18-15. Murray State went on a 3-1 run to pull within one at 18-19. Kukoc ended that stretch with a kill and began a 6-1 run in Miami's favor. A kill from Harper completed it as the RedHawks took a 25-19 win.

Simons had a pair of kills early in set three to help keep the score tight; her second one tied it at eight. The Racers scored four in a row to take control at 12-8, however Miami fought back to pull within two at 12-14. At that point, a 9-2 run made it 23-14 in favor of Murray State and put the score out of reach. Despite another kill from Harper, the Racers took a 25-16 win.

Kills from Kukoc and Payne, along with a block by Payne and Harper helped Miami take a 4-1 lead to begin set four. MSU answered with a 9-4 run to take a 10-8 advantage. Back-to-back kills by Jemison and junior right side hitter Haley Stewart tied the score at 10. Neither team could break away until the score was tied at 18. At that point the Racers went on a 4-1 run and forced a RedHawk timeout as they led 22-19. Out of the break a service error and a kill by Stewart cut the deficit to one and forced Murray State to use a timeout of its own. The break did not help as a solo block from Harper, a Racer attack error and a kill from Harper put Miami back in front at 24-22. The Racers scored next, but Stewart put down a final to kill to give the RedHawks a 25-23 victory and a 3-1 win in the match.

"Gaby delivered key kills throughout the match," said Condit. "Courtney was unstoppable in the middle, and our block worked very hard to keep their strong attackers in check."

Payne finished with 10 kills and three blocks for Miami, while sophomore outside hitter Sarah Wojick and Kukoc recorded eight kills each. Seaman led the 'Hawks with 28 assists.

Miami returns to action in the Saluki Invitaitonal later Friday when it takes on host Southern Illinois at 8 p.m. (EDT). That match will air live on ESPN+.