Volleyball Drops Five-Set Heartbreaker to Buffalo

Saturday, November 9

Buffalo, N.Y.

6:00 p.m. ET

Miami University

16-9,11-3MAC

Buffalo

11-15,7-7MAC

Miami (OH)

Buffalo

Volleyball Drops Five-Set Heartbreaker to Buffalo

11/9/2019 8:58:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Buffalo 3 Miami 2 (PDF)

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Miami University volleyball team saw its nine-match win streak come to an end as it fell in a five-set heartbreaker, 2-3 (22-25, 25-18, 25-23, 18-25, 9-15) to Buffalo on Saturday. The RedHawks fall to 16-9 overall and 11-3 in the Mid-American Conference. The Bulls improve to 11-15 overall and 7-7 in the MAC.

It was an offensive battle as both teams hit well. The RedHawks had a .299 attack percentage, while Buffalo hit at a .274 percentage. Miami outblocked the Bulls, 11-7, while UB had a 65-64 edge in digs.

The loss spoiled a big performance from freshman outside hitter Allyson Severance. She put down a team-high 13 kills, one of four to finish in double figures for the RedHawks. Severance made only four errors in 22 attempts, finishing with a .409 attack percentage.

"Despite our strong intent and work ethic, Buffalo proved to be the better team tonight," said head coach Carolyn Condit. "Their seniors were quite effective and they really worked our defense."

A tough start in set one saw Miami fall behind, 3-12. Three blocks from senior middle hitter Haley Stewart were part of a 6-1 run that cut the deficit to four at 9-13. Two kills from Severance, along with a kill from senior middle hitter Margaret Payne off an assist from Morgan Seaman cut the deficit to three at 13-16, but a 5-1 run by the Bulls made it 21-14. The RedHawks did not give up as kills from sophomore outside hitter Gaby Harper, junior right side hitter Avarie Powell and Severance got Miami as close as two points, but Buffalo was able to take a 25-22 victory.

It was a much better start for the RedHawks in set two. A pair of kills from Severance, along with a service ace from senior outside hitter Taylor Daignault made it 4-2. Two kills form Harper off assists from sophomore setter Louise Comerford increased the advantage to 9-4. Miami eventually got the lead to seven points at 17-10 after a solo block from Payne. The Bulls could get no closer than four points the rest of the way as the 'Hawks finished off a 25-18 win.

Kills from Payne, Harper, Powell and senior middle hitter Haley Stewart helped Miami open up a 7-4 lead in set three. Buffalo fought back to tie the score at 12 before back-to-back-back kills by Payne, Harper and Powell put the RedHawks back on top, 15-12. The teams began trading side outs as Miami kept the Bulls from tying the score. Buffalo pulled to within one at 18-19, but it was side outs the rest of the way as a kill from Daignault finished off a 25-23 victory.

The first half of set four was very tight. Tied at 11, Buffalo took control with four straight points. Kills by Payne and Stewart helped close the deficit to two at 14-16, but the Bulls would not let the 'Hawks get over the hump. Leading 17-15, Buffalo went on an 8-3 run to take a 25-18 win and send the match to a fifth set.

The Bulls quickly grabbed a 5-1 advantage in the final set. A kill and back-to-back blocks from Payne closed Miami within one at 4-5. With Buffalo leading 7-6, three straight points put it in control. The teams kept trading side outs until a kill from Severance cut the deficit to 9-12. The Bulls answered with three points in a row to finish off the 15-9 victory and win the match.

Harper recorded a double-double with 12 kills and 13 digs. Payne had 11 kills and six blocks (two solo). Powell finished with 10 kills, while Daignault had nine kills and nine digs. Seaman led the RedHawks with 29 assists, while senior libero Lindsay Dauch recorded 21 digs.

Miami enters the final week of the regular season with a one-match lead over Central Michigan in the MAC race. The week begins on the road as the RedHawks visit Bowling Green Thursday at 6 p.m. Miami closes the regular season at home against Western Michigan on Saturday at 6 p.m. That contest is Senior Night and the five RedHawk seniors will be honored in a pre-match ceremony.