OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami University volleyball team had a big night up front, finishing with a season-high 14 blocks, as it earned a 3-1 (30-28, 25-17, 22-25, 25-21) victory over Ohio Friday evening. With their seventh straight win, the RedHawks improve to 14-8 overall and 9-2 in the Mid-American Conference. The Bobcats fall to 13-11 overall and 5-6 in the MAC.

Senior middle hitter Margaret Payne led the block brigade with six total, while junior right side hitter Sarah Wojick had six. Payne also led the 'Hawks with 18 kills. She made only three errors in 37 attempts to finish with a .405 attack percentage.

A slow start for the RedHawks allowed Ohio to take an 11-6 lead to begin set one. A block by Payne and senior outside hitter Taylor Daignault sparked a 7-2 run that tied the score at 13. Trailing 15-16, a kill from junior right side hitter Avarie Powell off an assist from sophomore setter Louise Comerford, plus kills from Daignault and senior middle hitter Haley Stewart were part of four straight that put Miami on top, 19-16. The teams traded side outs until the Bobcats scored two in a row to tie the score at 23. Kills from Powell and sophomore outside hitter Gaby Harper gave the RedHawks two shots at set point, but Ohio fought it off both times. The Bobcats got set point at 27-26, but a block by Stewart retied the score. Tied at 28, a kill from Payne off an assist by junior setter Morgan Seaman and an Ohio attack error gave Miami a hard-fought, 30-28 win.

Payne had two kills, while Harper, Stewart and Powell each had one as Miami jumped to an 8-5 advantage in set two. Two more kills from Payne along with a block by Wojick increased it to 14-9. Harper had two kills and a solo block as the RedHawks eventually made it a 10-point advantage at 24-14. Payne finished off the win at 25-17 with a final kill.

Set three remained tight throughout the first half of the frame as neither team could establish a lead of more than two points. Tied at 16, the Bobcats finally took a three-point lead with a 3-0 run. However, a service error and back-to-back blocks by Payne retied the score at 19. Tied at 20, a 4-0 run by Ohio gave it set point. A service error and a kill by Powell allowed Miami to fight it off twice, but the Bobcats put the next point down to take a 25-22 victory and extend the match.

Payne and Powell each had two kills, while Harper had one as Miami took a 5-1 lead in set four. Ohio cut the deficit to 10-12, but a 6-3 run put the 'Hawks in front, 18-13. Powell had two kills as Miami seemingly was ready to put the match away with a 24-15 lead. Ohio kept things interesting as it went on a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to three at 21-24. Payne, however proved that there would be no comeback as she spiked one down to the floor to finish off a 25-21 win and give the RedHawks a 3-1 victory in the match.

Powell had 12 kills for Miami. Harper finished with a double-double of 11 kills and 16 digs. She also had four blocks. Wojick just missed a double-double with nine kills and 10 digs. Seaman did get a double-double with 34 assists and 13 digs. Junior libero Abigail Huser led the way with 23 of Miami's 91 total digs, while Daignault had 17.

The RedHawks return to action on Saturday when they host Kent State. First serve is at 5 p.m. and it will air live on ESPN+.