BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – After an intense battle with long rallies throughout, the Miami University volleyball team fell in the Mid-American Conference Tournament semifinals on Saturday, 1-3 (18-25, 30-28, 23-25, 20-25). The RedHawks are now 17-11 on the season, while the Cardinals improve to 19-11 and advance to the MAC Championship.

"As the number one seed we had to bring our 'A' game to the MAC Tournament," said head coach Carolyn Condit. "There are too many fine athletes, teams and coaches to earn success without it. We did not find it tonight and Ball State did."

There were a combined 198 digs in the match, with Ball State recording 105 and Miami getting 93. Senior outside hitter Taylor Daignault led the 'Hawks with 25, while junior libero Abigail Huser had 22.

Miami did not go down with a fight as it made a comeback in every set despite falling short. Junior right side hitter Avarie Powell led the way with a career-high 18 kills. Senior middle hitter Margaret Payne put down 14 kills and did not make an attack error in 26 attempts for a .538 hitting percentage. Daignault made it a double-double with 12 kills to go with her 25 digs.

Ball State took a 9-3 lead to begin set one. Kills from Powell and sophomore outside hitter Sophie Riemersma were part of a 6-2 run that cut the deficit to two at 9-11. The teams traded side outs until back-to-back kills from sophomore outside hitter Gaby Harper and Powell tied the score at 16. From there the Cardinals closed on a 9-2 run to take a 25-18 victory.

The RedHawks fell behind again to begin set two. Trailing 7-12, a kill from Daignault off an assist by sophomore setter Louise Comerford, followed by a kill from Payne off an assist from junior setter Morgan Seaman cut the deficit to 9-12. Ball State pushed the lead back to five at 17-12, but kills from Daignault and Harper, along with a block from Daignault and senior middle hitter Haley Stewart pulled Miami to within two at 15-17. The RedHawks were unable to get closer than two points as the Cardinals eventually got set point at 24-20. Miami showed a lot of heart and determination as two kills from Powell, a block by Harper and Stewart and a kill off a dig from Huser tied the score at 24. Ball State scored next, but a block by Powell and Stewart tied the score at 25. Each team then had a chance to win the set over next few points, but neither was able to get two in a row. Tied at 28, a kill from junior right side hitter Sarah Wojick gave the RedHawks another chance. The Cardinals seemingly tied the score at 29, but Condit challenged the call. The referee ruled that there was no touch on Ball State's attack that had gone long, reversing it and giving Miami a 30-28 victory.

Ball State led the majority of the first half of set three, but this time the RedHawks did not let the lead get bigger than three points. Trailing 12-15, two kills from Powell were part of four straight for Miami that gave it a 16-15 advantage. A 6-2 run by the Cardinals put them on top, 21-18. The RedHawks answered with four straight, capped by a block from Riemersma and Payne that made it 22-21. Ball State scored next, but Payne put one down to give Miami a 23-22 lead. The Cardinals scored the next three, however, to steal a 25-23 win and take a 2-1 lead in the match.

Seaman led off set four with a service ace. Ball State was able to fight back to take an 8-5 advantage. Kills by Comerford, Daignault and Powell tied the score at eight. The key run came with the score tied at 15. The Cardinals went on a 7-2 run to take control at 22-17. Daignault and Payne each recorded kills, but the 'Hawks were unable to make a dent into the deficit as Ball State earned the 3-1 victory with a 25-20 win.

Harper had eight kills and 25 digs for the RedHawks. Comerford recorded a double-double of 28 assists and 15 digs.

Check back with MiamiRedHawks.com for potential postseason announcements.