AKRON, Ohio--A hard-fought effort came up short as the Miami University volleyball team was edged in five sets at the University of Akron on Thursday night, 25-19, 23-25, 25-21, 22-25, 8-15. Miami drops to 2-1 in the Mid-American Conference, while Akron moves to 1-2 in the MAC. (Complete stats will be posted
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Akron opened the match scoring three unanswered, but Miami came back to knot the set, 4-4. The teams went back and forth, and Miami held a 15-13 lead before a 10-6 run by the RedHawks allowed them to take control and win the opening set, 25-19.  
• In the second set, Miami took an early lead and pushed its advantage to an 18-14 lead. Akron responded to pull ahead of the RedHawks late in the set. With set point on the line, Miami rattled off a five-point run to shrink the deficit before dropping their its set of the year, 25-23. 
• Miami opened up an 8-4 lead in the third set. Akron responded and tied things up at 10 apiece, but Miami reclaimed a 15-10 lead. Miami maintained its lead in the set and took a 2-1 lead in the match with a 25-21 win in the third set. 
• The RedHawks took an early lead in the fourth set, but the Zips came back to post a 14-9 advantage. Miami closed the gap, tying the set at 19-19, but Akron pushed the match to a deciding set with a 25-22 win in the fourth stanza. 
• Akron built an early lead and didn't look back in the fifth set, winning 15-8. 

COMMENTS FROM HEAD COACH CAROLYN CONDIT:
"We started strong but inconsistencies allowed Akron too many runs. Their performance tonight reflected the experience they had on the court; ours did not."
 
NOTES: 

• Miami's block was strong, compiling 13.0 on the night. Freshman Abby Stratford led the way with an impressive night at the net, amassing three solo blocks and four block assists. Freshman Maggie McCrary and senior Avarie Powell had five block assists apiece.
• Sophomore Lindsay Taylor amassed a career high 17 digs.
• It was the second-straight match junior Gaby Harper reached double figures in kills, tallying 10 against the Zips.
• Senior Morgan Seaman notched 20 assists and junior Jennifer Schulze had 19 assists. Schulze added 13 digs, while Seaman chipped in 12.
• Schulze and Taylor served up two aces each.

 
UP NEXT: Miami and Akron meet for a second time in James A Rhodes Arena at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 29.