KENT, Ohio - The Miami University volleyball team opens defense of its Mid-American Conference championship on the road this weekend. On Friday, the RedHawks travel to Kent State for a 6 p.m. match. On Saturday, it is the Battle of the Bricks in Athens as Miami takes on Ohio at 5 p.m. Both matches will air live on ESPN+.

THREE-TIME MAC CHAMPIONS: Miami has won the past three MAC regular season championships and has had tremendous success in league play over the past five seasons. Since 2014, the RedHawks are 65-15 in MAC contests. That includes 12-4 records in 2014 and 2015, a 15-1 campaign in 2016 and 13-3 marks each of the past two seasons. During that five-year stretch, Miami is 35-5 in MAC contests at Millett Hall and 30-10 on the road.

POWELL HONORED FOR PERFORMANCE: Junior middle hitter Avarie Powell continued her breakout season by earning All-Tournament honors at the Buckeye Invitational last weekend. She recorded 31 kills, an average of 2.82 per set. She made only seven errors in 45 attempts for an incredible attack percentage of .436. Powell now has 66 kills on the season and ranks second on the RedHawks with 27 blocks, an average of 0.71 blocks per set. ABOUT KENT STATE: The Golden Flashes are 7-5 after non-conference play in 2019. They split their two matches last week at the Golden-Viking Invitational. They dropped a straight-set decision to Cleveland State on Friday in Cleveland, but returned home to knock off Niagara, 3-2, on Saturday. Kent State has six different players averaging two or more kills per set, led by freshman outside hitter Savannah Matthews with 123 kills, an average of 2.56 per set. The Golden Flashes have been winning matches with their defense, holding opponents to a .169 attack percentage. Sophomore libero Erin Gardner has 287 digs, an average of 5.98 per set.

SERIES WITH THE GOLDEN FLASHES: Miami holds a 64-18 all-time record in the series with Kent State. The RedHawks have won four straight against the Golden Flashes, including both matches last season. On Oct. 6, 2018 in Oxford, Miami used a strong .290 attack percentage to roll to a 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-21) victory. Sophie Riemersma led the 'Hawks with 12 kills. On Nov. 9, 2018 in Kent, the Red and White took the first two sets en route to a 3-1 (25-19, 25-23, 22-25, 25-18) win. Courtney Simons led the way with 14 kills, while Riemersma contributed 11.

ABOUT OHIO: The Bobcats are 8-5 on the season. They just had a seven match win streak snapped in their last contest. Last weekend at the North Texas Challenge, they defeated New Mexico in straight sets and Kansas State, 3-2, before falling 0-3 to host North Texas. Offensively, Ohio is led by junior middle blocker Tia Jimerson. While she missed the first eight matches of the season due to injury, she has returned with a vengeance in the last five. Jimerson has 62 kills, an average of 3.45 per set, and is hitting an impressive .485. Also key to the Bobcat attack is junior setter Vera Giacomazzi. She has 562 assists, an average of 11.20 per set.

SERIES WITH THE BOBCATS: Miami leads the all-time series with Ohio, 51-35. The RedHawks have won three straight against the Bobcats and six of the past seven meetings. That includes both matches last season. On Oct. 5, 2018 in Oxford, a competitive match came down to the fifth set before Miami was able to prevail with a 3-2 (25-22, 21-25, 25-19, 18-25, 15-9) victory. Gaby Harper had a double-double with 22 kills and 14 digs in the win. On Nov. 10, 2018 in Athens, the sets were again tight, but the RedHawks won them all in a 3-0 (26-24, 30-28, 25-21) victory. Sophie Riemersma led Miami with 16 kills in that contest.