Volleyball Falls in Three Sets to Notre Dame

Saturday, September 8

Bowling Green, Ky.

10:30 a.m. ET

Miami University

6-3

Notre Dame

5-2

Miami

Volleyball Falls in Three Sets to Notre Dame

9/8/2018 12:44:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Notre Dame box (PDF)Photo Gallery

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Miami University volleyball team ran into a strong Notre Dame team on Saturday at the Holiday Inn – University Plaza Invitational as it dropped a 0-3 (19-25, 16-25, 16-25) decision. The RedHawks fall to 6-3 on the season, while the Fighting Irish improve to 5-2.

Miami was able to hold Notre Dame to a .168 attack percentage for the match. However, the Fighting Irish, who came into the contest having held opponents to a .088 attack percentage for the season, forced the RedHawks into a season-low .064 attack percentage that proved to be the difference.

A block by junior middle hitter Margaret Payne and junior right side hitter Haley Stewart gave Miami a 4-3 lead in set one. UND went on a 6-2 run that was stopped by a kill from senior right side hitter Stela Kukoc. Despite a pair of kills by freshman outside hitter Gaby Harper off of assists from sophomore setter Morgan Seaman, the Irish were able to push the lead to seven at 19-12. A block by freshman middle hitter Corinne Jemison and freshman outside hitter Sophie Riemersma, along with kills from Kukoc and Rimersma allowed the RedHawks to get as close as five points, but Notre Dame eventually took a 25-19 victory.

Kukoc and sophomore outside hitter Sarah Wojick each had kills as Miami took a 3-1 lead to begin set two. The Fighting Irish went in front, 10-7, but a kill from Harper and a UND attack error pulled the 'Hawks to within one at 9-10 and forced a timeout. Out of the break, a 7-2 run put the Irish in control. Wojick and Payne had back-to-back kills to make it 13-17, but an 8-3 closing stretch by Notre Dame gave it a 25-16 win.

Despite two kills from Payne, Notre Dame built an 11-4 lead to begin set three. A service ace by Riemersma, plus a block and a kill from senior middle hitter Courtney Simons were part of five straight for Miami that cut the deficit to two at 9-11. The Irish answered with a 7-2 run of their own to make it 18-11. Payne and junior outside hitter Taylor Daignault each had kills to help cut the deficit to five, but UND would pull away to take a 25-16 victory and a 3-0 win in the match.

Harper led Miami with six kills, while Kukoc, Payne and Wojick each recorded five. Seaman had 15 assists for the RedHawks, while sophomore libero Abigail Huser had a team-high 14 digs.
Miami completes play at the Holiday Inn – University Plaza Invitational when it takes on host Western Kentucky later Saturday at 3:30 p.m. (EDT).