BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Miami University volleyball team overcame a tough first set to battle Western Kentucky the remainder of the way, but it fell 1-3 (13-25, 23-25, 25-22, 23-25) to close out play at the Holiday Inn – University Plaza Invitational. The RedHawks fall to 6-4 on the season, while the Lady Toppers improve to 6-4.

"This was a difficult match to find momentum," said head coach Carolyn Condit. "We came up short of our usual ball control and produced too many unforced errors. Western Kentucky provided an offensive attack we were unable to match. It is important that we remember what we learned and take it into the next full week of practice."

Senior right side hitter Stela Kukoc was named All-Tournament for Miami. For the weekend she 28 kills, an average of 2.80 kills per set. She hit a team-leading .324. Against WKU, Kukoc led Miami with 11 kills and hit .320 for the match.

The Lady Toppers jumped to a 6-0 lead to begin set one. A pair of blocks by junior middle hitter Margaret Payne and a service ace by freshman setter Louise Comerford helped pull the 'Hawks to within three at 5-8. WKU responded with a 13-7 run that put it control at 21-12. Miami scored next, but the Lady Toppers put down the next four to take a 25-13 win.

Trailing 3-8 in set two, two kills by freshman middle hitter Corinne Jemison, a service ace by junior outside hitter Taylor Daignault and a kill from sophomore outside hitter Sarah Wojick helped get the RedHawks back into it. Western Kentucky pushed the advantage back to four at 16-10, but Kukoc had two service aces as part of a 4-0 run that made it 14-16. While Miami kept it close, it could not quite get over the hump. A service ace by junior libero Lindsay Dauch cut the deficit to one at 21-22. WKU scored the next two points to get set point. The Red and White fought it off twice with a kill from Jemison and a block by Payne and junior right side hitter Haley Stewart, but the Lady Toppers scored next to take a 25-23 win.

Tied at 11 in set three, two kills from Wojick and a block by Kukoc gave Miami its first three-point lead of the match. Leading 19-16, two service aces by Stewart put the RedHawks in control. Kills by Jemison and Payne helped MU get set point at 24-18. WKU was able to fight it off four times before a kill by Jemison gave Miami a 25-22 victory.

Neither team would gain a lead of more than two points during the entirety of set four. The RedHawks held the small advantage throughout the early portion of the set, while a mini-run by Western Kentucky gave it the advantage during the middle portion. Trailing 15-17, a kill by Wojick, a service ace by Dauch and a Lady Topper attack error gave Miami an 18-17 lead. After WKU scored two in a row, the teams traded side outs until the Toppers were able to push the lead to two at 23-21 and force a RedHawk timeout. Out of the break, a block by Payne and freshman outside hitter Gaby Harper and a Western Kentucky attack error tied the score at 23. The Lady Toppers followed with two straight points to take a 25-23 win and a 3-1 victory in the match.

Jemison had nine kills for Miami, while Wojick put down eight. Payne had a team-high eight blocks (two solo and six assisted). Sophomore setter Morgan Seaman recorded a double-double with 18 assists and a RedHawk leading 10 digs.

Miami returns to action next weekend when it hosts the RedHawk Invitational inside Millett Hall. On Friday, Miami takes on Oakland at 7 p.m. It concludes play against Saint Francis (PA) on Saturday at 6 p.m.