FRIDAY AND SATURDAY'S MATCHES: The Miami University volleyball team opens the 2021 spring campaign with a pair of matches at home against Buffalo this weekend. The RedHawks and Bulls square-off in the season opener on Friday, Jan. 22 in Oxford. The teams meet again on Saturday, Jan. 23. Start times for both matches are scheduled for 7 p.m. 

ABOUT BUFFALO: The Bulls are coming off a season where they posted an 8-8 conference record to finish in fifth in the MAC East Division. Buffalo returns eight letterwinners, including three starters and the starting libero from a season ago.

THE SERIES WITH THE BULLS: Friday marks the 43rd meeting between Miami and Buffalo with the RedHawks owning a 32-10 lead in the all-time series. When playing in Oxford, Miami is 17-4 against Buffalo. UB took the last meeting between the teams, 3-2, in Buffalo on Nov. 9, 2019. The RedHawks had won the previous 10 matches between the teams. Miami's last win in the series also was its last win against the Bulls in Oxford, a 3-0 win on Oct. 4 last year in Oxford. The Bulls' last win in Oxford was on Oct. 12, 2013, 3-1. 

TELEVISION: Friday's and Saturday's matches are scheduled to be carried live on ESPN+. Steve Baker and Lisa Dankovich will call the action.

HARPER NAMED TO PRESEASON ALL-MAC EAST DIVISION TEAM: Junior outside hitter Gaby Harper was one of six selected to the All-MAC East Division Preseason Team. Harper earned all-conference honors in her first two years with the RedHawks, including First-Team All-MAC honors as well as MAC Freshman of the Year accolades in 2018. Harper averaged 2.65 kills per set, 3.17 digs per set and 0.52 blocks per set as a sophomore a season ago.

CLOSING IN ON 750 CAREER WINS: Miami head coach Carolyn Condit is closing in on her 750th career win. Condit owns a 749-557 career record and enters her 41st season as a head coach. Condit's 749 total victories are tied for eighth among active NCAA Division I coaches and tied for 24nd all-time. Owning more victories than any coach in the history of the Miami Athletic Department, Condit holds a 650-479 record and is in her 37th season in charge of the Red and White. Condit is the only volleyball coach in the history of the Mid-American Conference to win more than 300 league matches, holding a conference mark of 355-210.

REDHAWKS PICKED FIRST IN PRESEASON POLL: In a poll of the 12 Mid-American Conference head volleyball coaches, Miami was predicted to win the East Division. The RedHawks, the four-time defending MAC regular-season champions, received four first-place votes to win the East Division and one vote to win the MAC Tournament.
2020-21 Est Division Preseason Coaches Poll
1.    Miami — 62 points (4 first place votes)
2.    Bowling Green — 60 points (5)
3.    Ohio — 55 points (3)
4.    Akron — 28 points
5.    Kent State — 24 points
6.    Buffalo — 23 points
 
2020-21 West Division Preseason Coaches Poll
1.    Central Michigan - 67 points (7)
2.    Ball State — 64 points (5)
3.    Western Michigan — 45 points
4.    Eastern Michigan — 31 points
5.    Toledo — 23 points
6.    Northern Illinois — 22 points

ODDS 'N ENDS:
As are many things these days, the 2021 spring competition season looks a little different than usual. The RedHawks will play a 22-match slate, but all matches will be against Mid-American Conference opponents. 

The Mid-American Conference Tournament will be held April 2-4 and will be hosted by the No. 1 seed in the tournament.

UP NEXT: The RedHawks hit the road for next two weeks as Miami travels to Akron for a Thursday/Friday series of matches Jan. 28-29. Match times are set for 7 p.m. both nights. Miami continues its road stretch when it travels to Bowling Green for matches at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 4 and 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 5.