OXFORD, Ohio – For the second consecutive match, the Miami University volleyball team had a slow start as it dropped set one to Saint Francis, but it used a strong defensive effort to earn a 3-1 (20-25, 25-19, 25-16, 25-17) victory and win the RedHawk Invitational. Miami completes non-conference play with a record of 8-4, while the Red Flash fall to 1-12.

Senior right side hitter Stela Kukoc led the way once again, just missing a double-double with nine kills and 11 digs. She was named RedHawk Invitational MVP after averaging 2.38 kills and 2.75 digs per set in two matches. Joining her on the All-Tournament team is junior middle hitter Margaret Payne and sophomore libero Abigail Huser. Payne had 14 kills and eight blocks over the weekend, while Huser had a breakout weekend with 45 digs, an average of 5.62 per set.

Miami was able to earn the victory Saturday by forcing Saint Francis into 31 attack errors. The RedHawks held the Red Flash to a .025 attack percentage, while recording 85 digs and 11 blocks as a team. Huser shattered her career high with 26 digs, while junior outside hitter Taylor Daignault finished with 15. Sophomore setter Morgan Seaman recorded 13 digs, and made it a double-double with 16 assists.

The RedHawks were a bit flat out of the gate to begin set one as Saint Francis jumped to a 6-1 advantage. The Red Flash eventually pushed the lead to as much as nine points at 20-11 before a kill from freshman outside hitter Gaby Harper and a service ace by freshman setter Louise Comerford started a Miami run. Comerford had another service ace, while Harper put down a kill and a service ace to get the Red and White as close as four at 17-21, but the early deficit was too much to overcome as Saint Francis earned a 25-20 win.

Trailing 4-5 in set two, a block from junior right side Haley Stewart, a kill from Daignault off an assist from Comerford and a kill from freshman middle hitter Corinne Jemison helped give Miami an 8-5 lead. The Red Flash would tie the score at 12, but kills by Daignault, Seaman and Payne put the 'Hawks in control. Jemison had back-to-back blocks, while Saint Francis hit it out-of-bounds three straight times as part of an overall 9-1 run that made it 21-13. The Red Flash fought back, but three kills from Kukoc made sure Miami came away with a 25-19 victory.

Trailing 6-7 in set three, kills from Kukoc and Jemison, a service ace by Stewart, a kill from freshman outside hitter Sophie Riemersma and a block by Jemison and Kukoc gave Miami an 11-7 advantage. Despite a kill and a service ace by Kukoc, Saint Francis was able to pull within three at 13-16. At that point, the RedHawks used their defense, forcing the Red Flash into several attack errors, to go on a closing 9-3 run to take a 25-16 win.

Daignault recorded two kills, while Riemersma and Payne had a block as Miami took a 6-0 lead to begin set four. After Saint Francis got on the board, Payne took over with two kills and two blocks to make it 10-1 in favor of the 'Hawks. Jemison and Daignault each got into the action, putting down kills off assists from freshman setter Jenifer Schulze to give Miami its largest lead at 16-5. The Red and White were able to cruise from there, as a kill by Riemersma and a service ace from Kukoc finished off a 25-17 victory and gave Miami a 3-1 win in the match.

Payne joined Kukoc for the team lead with nine kills. Daignault put down eight kills, while Jemison recorded seven. Comerford led Miami with 19 assists. Payne and Stewart tied for the team lead with five blocks each.

The RedHawks will begin defense of their Mid-American Conference championship on the road next weekend. It begins with a match at Akron on Friday at 7 p.m. Miami then travels to Buffalo next Saturday for a 6 p.m. contest.