BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - For the fourth straight season, the Miami University volleyball team is in a postseason tournament as it competes in the NIVC. The RedHawks head to Bowling Green, Ohio for the first two rounds of the 32-team event. On Thursday, Miami takes on TCU at 4:30 p.m in the first round. With a victory, the 'Hawks will face either the host Bowling Green or Purdue Fort Wayne in the second round on Friday at 7 p.m. Both matches will air live on BGSU's YouTube Channel.

POSTSEASON HISTORY: This is 12th time Miami has participated in a postseason volleyball tournament. That includes four NIVC bids, seven NCAA appearances and one spot in the 1980 MAIAW Tournament that was the national tournament before the NCAA took over women's sports in 1981.

LAST YEAR IN NIVC: Miami hosted the first two rounds of the NIVC last season. In the first round, the RedHawks cruised to a 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-22) win over Northern Kentucky. Miami ran into a hot-hitting Valparaiso squad in the second round as it was eliminated 0-3 (21-25, 16-25, 18-25).

DAIGNAULT MAC ALL-TOURNAMENT: Senior outside hitter Taylor Daignault was named to the MAC All-Tournament Team after her performance against Ball State in the MAC Semifinals on Nov. 23. She finished with 12 kills, 25 digs and two block assists, despite not playing in the first set of the four-set match.
  ABOUT TCU: The Horned Frogs went 9-17 during the regular season with a 4-12 mark in the Big 12. That record is deceiving as they play in one of the highest ranked conferences in the country. In fact, in their last match on Saturday, they fell in straight sets to Baylor, which was just awarded the number one overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. TCU is a young team that features only one senior. Five different Horned Frogs average two or more kills per set, led by sophomore outside hitter Katie Clark. She has 242 kills, an average of 2.66 kills per set.

SERIES WITH THE HORNED FROGS: Miami holds a 2-1 lead in the all-time series with TCU. The teams last met on Sept. 3, 2004 in Oxford. After Hurricane Francis scuttled the RedHawks plans to travel to Florida for a tournament, they quickly put together one of their own. Miami was able to earn a 3-1 (30-24, 23-30, 30-23, 30-28) win over the Horned Frogs in what was the season-opener for both schools. Angie Zent led the 'Hawks with 18 kills.

ABOUT BOWLING GREEN: The Falcons are 19-12 overall and finished in second place in the MAC with an 11-5 record. As the third seed in the MAC Tournament they knocked off Buffalo in the quarterfinals, 3-0, and Central Michigan in the semifinals, 3-1. However, they dropped a 2-3 heartbreaker to Ball State in the MAC Championship in their last action on Nov. 24. Bowling Green has been led by sophomore outside hitter Katelyn Meyer. She has had a breakout campaign with 430 kills, an average of 3.74 kills per set. Their libero, sophomore Julia Walz has 644 digs on the season, an average of 5.60 digs per set.

SERIES WITH THE FALCONS: Miami holds a 52-32 lead in the all-time series with Bowling Green. The matches have been tight the last few seasons as the teams have shared the last two MAC Championships. The RedHawks used a strong defensive effort to earn a 3-0 (26-24, 25-14, 26-24) win in their first meeting this season on Oct. 10 in Oxford. Sophomore outside hitter Gaby Harper recorded a double-double with 14 kills and 10 digs. Miami held the Falcons to a .097 attack percentage for the match. After another tight battle, the RedHawks fell, 2-3 (25-20, 24-26, 25-20, 18-25, 11-25), in the second meeting on Nov. 14 in Bowling Green. Senior middle hitter Margaret Payne led the way with 18 kills.

ABOUT PURDUE FORT WAYNE: Purdue Fort Wayne (formerly IPFW) went 18-14 in the regular season and placed third in the Summit League with a 11-5 record. In their last action at the Summit League Tournament, they defeated Oral Roberts in the quarterfinals, 3-1, before falling, 1-3, in the semifinals to Denver on Nov. 23. The Mastodons are led by junior outside hitter Katie Crowe. She has 408 kills, an average of 3.29 kills per set.

SERIES WITH THE MASTODONS: Miami holds a 4-3 lead in the all-time series with Purdue Fort Wayne. The teams last met at the Miami Invitational on Sept. 19, 2015 in Oxford. The RedHawks earned a 3-0 (25-21, 25-16, 25-19) victory. Maris Below had 13 kills, while Krista Brakauskas recorded a double-double of 21 assists and 13 digs.