MUNCIE, Ind. – The Miami University volleyball team came out swinging in the first two sets and made a strong comeback in the third to earn a 3-0 (25-15, 25-16, 26-24) sweep over Ball State Friday evening. With their fifth straight win, the RedHawks improve to 12-8 overall and 7-2 in the Mid-American Conference. The Cardinals fall to 11-10 overall and 5-4 in the MAC.

Miami had 47 kills and only 14 attack errors in the match, finishing with a .282 attack percentage. The RedHawks held Ball State to a .137 attack percentage and forced 20 errors. They out dug the Cardinals 62-50 and were led by junior libero Abigail Huser with 22 digs.

Early on it was sophomore outside hitter Gaby Harper controlling play. She put down nine kills in set one alone. She finished with 12 kills, six digs and four blocks.

Senior middle hitter Margaret Payne led the way with 13 kills. She made only three errors in 24 attempts for a .417 attack percentage. She also led the 'Hawks with seven blocks. Junior right side hitter Avarie Powell had 10 kills and only one error in 19 attempts for a .474 attack percentage.

"This victory was the result of pooling consistency and effort on both sides of the ball," said head coach Carolyn Condit. "Our defense inspired a strong versatile attack game. I'm proud of how teammates pulled together to elevate their game for this important road win!"

After giving up the first two points of set one, two kills from Harper and two blocks by Payne were part of five straight points for Miami. The Cardinals answered with four straight of their own to take a 6-5 lead. It would be the last time BSU held an advantage until the third set. Two more kills from Harper, along with a kill from junior right side hitter Sarah Wojick off an assist from sophomore setter Louise Comerford helped the RedHawks take a 14-9 lead. Ball State pulled within two at 12-14 before Miami closed the set on an 11-3 run. Three kills from Payne and one more from Harper all off assists from sophomore setter Morgan Seaman helped the 'Hawks pull away for the 25-15 win.

Payne, Harper and junior outside hitter Taylor Daignault scored the first three points of set two. A kill by Harper and a service ace from Wojick extended the advantage to 7-2. A service ace by Harper made it 12-6 and forced a Cardinal timeout. Miami kept fighting out of the break with three more kills from Payne making it 19-11. Ball State closed to within six at 16-22, but kills from Powell and Daignault finished off a 25-16 victory.

A pair of kills and a service ace by Wojick made set three seem like it was going to follow the script of the first two sets as the RedHawks jumped to a 6-1 lead. As the teams traded points, a service ace from Harper made it 11-5 in favor of Miami. A 9-2 run by Ball State gave the team its first lead since set one at 14-13. The teams traded side outs until a block by Harper and Payne gave the 'Hawks the advantage back at 17-16. The Cardinals kept fighting, scoring the next five in a row to seemingly take control at 21-17. Blocks from Payne and Powell were part of a 4-1 run that pulled Miami within 21-22. Ball State scored next, but a kill from Powell and a block by senior middle hitter Haley Stewart tied the score at 23. After the teams traded service errors, Payne scored next to give the RedHawks match point. Wojick answered with one final kill to secure the 26-24 victory and the sweep of the match.

Wojick finished with six kills and three blocks, while Daignault had 16 digs. The RedHawks held a 10-5 blocking advantage.

Miami returns to action on Saturday when it travels to Toledo for an 8 p.m. match. That contest will air live on ESPN+.