COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Miami University volleyball team has a big challenge ahead of it as it competes in the Buckeye Invitational this week. On Thursday, the RedHawks will take on host Ohio State at 6 p.m. That match will air live on BTN+ for those who have a subscription. On Saturday, Miami faces Dayton at noon and closes with Illinois State at 5:30 p.m.

DEFENSE BY COMMITTEE: Miami has been averaging 14.64 digs per set so far this season. The RedHawks have seen a lot of balance among its back row with three different players averaging more than three digs per set. Junior libero Abigail Huser leads the way with an average of 3.28 digs per set. Senior outside hitter Taylor Daignault has a team-high 68 digs and averages 3.24 per set. Sophomore outside hitter Gaby Harper is averaging 3.06 digs per set. Six different RedHawks have 39 or more digs this season.

HARPER RETURNING TO LINEUP: Sophomore outside hitter Gaby Harper has returned to full strength and will be able to impact the lineup as a six-rotation hitter. Last weekend she had double-doubles in both matches, including 15 kills and 14 digs in a victory over North Carolina. Harper had nine double-doubles last season en route to winning Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year honors. ABOUT OHIO STATE: The Buckeyes are 4-5 on the season. Last weekend, they dropped a 1-3 decision to Tulane and were swept by host Western Kentucky. They rebounded to sweep Miami's MAC rival Bowling Green in the tournament finale however. Ohio State is led by sophomore outside hitter Mia Grunze. She has 98 kills, an average of 3.77 kills per set.

SERIES WITH THE BUCKEYES: Ohio State holds an 11-4 lead in the all-time series with Miami. The teams last met on Sept. 20, 2014 at the Miami Best Western Sycamore Inn Invitational. The RedHawks took the first set 25-20 and nearly had the second set before OSU came away with a 28-26 victory. That changed the momentum of the match as the Buckeyes won set three 25-16 and set four 25-17 to earn a 3-1 win. Meg Riley had a triple double with 10 kills, 20 assists and 10 digs for Miami.

ABOUT DAYTON: The Flyers are 5-5 on the season. They have played a very difficult schedule having faced off against three ranked teams already in 2019. They went 2-1 at the Missouri State Fall Invitational last weekend. They were swept by SMU in the opener, but recovered to defeat Kansas State, 3-2, and host Missouri State, 3-0. Dayton is led by redshirt sophomore outside hitter Jamie Peterson. She has 162 kills, an average of 4.15 per set.

SERIES WITH THE FLYERS: Dayton leads the all-time series with Miami, 14-13. The teams have already met once this season on Sept. 3 in Oxford. The RedHawks could not overcome a strong Flyer block as they fell, 0-3 (14-25, 21-25, 21-25). Senior Margaret Payne led Miami with nine kills and a .462 attack percentage.

ABOUT ILLINOIS STATE: The Redbirds are 7-2 on the season. They are receiving votes in the latest AVCA Coaches' Poll and are only three spots out of being ranked in the top 25. With a star-studded field at its home tournament last weekend, Illinois State opened up with a 3-1 victory over 14th-ranked Illinois. It followed with a 3-2 victory over UCF, which is receiving votes in the poll. The tournament concluded with a showdown against seventh-ranked Marquette. That match went to extra points in the fifth set before the Golden Eagles were able to squeak away with a 21-19 victory. The Redbirds have been winning matches with their defense, holding the opposition to a .167 attack percentage. Their top attacker is junior outside hitter Kaylee Martin (who RedHawk fans may remember as a freshman playing for Northern Illinois in 2017). She has 140 kills, an average of 3.78 kills per set.

SERIES WITH REDBIRDS: Illinois State holds an 8-4 lead in the all-time series with Miami. The teams last met on Sept. 2, 2016 at the Tiger Invitational in Columbia, Missouri. In an extremely hard-fought back and forth match, the RedHawks took the first two sets, before Illinois State grabbed the final three as Miami fell, 2-3 (27-25, 25-21, 22-25, 23-25, 12-15). Katie Tomasic led Miami with 16 kills.