BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – It was another classic five-set match between the Miami University volleyball team and Bowling Green on Thursday featuring several long rallies, but the RedHawks fell, 2-3 (25-20, 24-26, 25-20, 18-25, 11-15). Miami is now 16-10 overall and 11-4 in the Mid-American Conference. Bowling Green improves to 16-11 overall and 10-5 in the MAC.

Too many attack errors in key moments spoiled a great defensive effort by the RedHawks. Miami recorded a season-high 100 digs, led by senior outside hitter Taylor Daignault, who had a career-high 29 digs. Miami held Bowling Green to a .122 attack percentage over the course of the match, but finished with a season-high 36 attack errors, hitting only .107 for the contest.

Miami fell behind, 6-10, early in set one. A kill from sophomore outside hitter Gaby Harper, a block by junior right side hitter Avarie Powell and a service ace by Harper quickly got the RedHawks right back into it. Back-to-back kills from junior right side hitter Sarah Wojick off an assist from sophomore setter Louise Comerford and senior middle hitter Margaret Payne off an assist from junior setter Morgan Seaman tied the score at 12. Tied at 14, kills from Wojick and Payne put Miami in front. Powell, Wojick and Payne each recorded points to increase the advantage to 23-18. Wojick finished off the 25-20 win with a solo block.

A slow start for the RedHawks in set two saw Bowling Green take an 8-2 advantage. Miami forced five straight Falcon errors to pull within one. BGSU pushed the lead back to four at 12-8 and maintained it throughout the majority of the set. Trailing 17-20, a kill by Harper and a block from senior middle hitter Haley Stewart were part of three straight points that tied the score. Tied at 21, back-to-back kills from sophomore right side hitter Sophie Riemersma and Stewart gave Miami control at 23-21. Bowling Green fought back to score the next three and get set point. A kill from Wojick tied the score at 24, but two straight for the Falcons gave them a 26-24 victory.

Tied at nine in set three, a kill by Stewart and a block from Daignault and Stewart sparked an 8-3 run that gave Miami a 17-12 lead. Harper had two more kills, while Powell, Stewart and Daignault each had one to help make it 22-16. A block by Powell and Wojick gave the RedHawks set point at 24-17, but Bowling Green fought it off three times. After a timeout, Miami secured the 25-20 win with a Payne kill off a Seaman assist.

Two kills from Wojick, along with kills from Payne and Daignault saw Miami earn a 4-1 lead to begin set four. The Falcons responded with a 10-4 run to take an 11-8 advantage and force a RedHawk timeout. Out of the break a kill from freshman right side hitter Allyson Severance and a service ace by Harper pulled Miami to within one. BGSU followed with a 9-2 run to take control at 20-12. Severance had a pair of kills as the 'Hawks tried to mount a comeback, but the Falcons took a 25-18 win and sent the match to the final set.

A kill from Payne and several Bowling Green errors helped Miami take a 5-2 lead in set five and force a quick Falcon timeout. Out of the break BGSU scored four in a row to force a RedHawk timeout. Powell answered with a kill to tie the score at six, but the Falcons scored two in a row to take an 8-6 advantage when the teams switched sides. A kill by Riemersma and a block from Severance were part of three straight that made it 9-8 in favor of Miami. Bowling Green then answered with four in a row to make it 12-9. A kill from Severance and a Falcon attack error got the 'Hawks to within one at 11-12, but Bowling Green scored the final three to earn a 15-11 win and take the match, 3-2.

"We had a disappointing finish tonight in a match that was ours to take," said head coach Carolyn Condit. "It was good to compete at the site of the MAC Tournament."

Payne led Miami with 14 kills. Harper had eight kills, 18 digs and three solo blocks. Wojick and Powell had eight kills each. Seaman recorded a double-double with 27 assists and 12 digs.

Miami can still clinch its fourth straight MAC Championship Saturday when its hosts Western Michigan at 6 p.m. for its season finale. It can also earn it if Central Michigan loses either of its final two matches. The match against the Broncos is Senior Night and the RedHawks' five-member senior class will be honored in a pre-match ceremony. It is also the Celebrating Miami: Tribe and University match. Miami Athletics is proud of the partnership with the Myaamia Center, in conjunction with the relationship between Miami University and the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. For more info please click HERE.