AKRON, Ohio—After dropping the first two sets, the Miami University volleyball team used a gritty effort to battle back and capture a five-set win (27-29, 17-25, 25-18, 25-16, 15-11) at the University of Akron on Friday evening. With the win, the RedHawks move to 3-1 in the Mid-American Conference, while the Zips drop to 1-3.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Miami took an early 3-1 lead in the first set. A kill by senior Sarah Wojick and an ace from sophomore Allyson Severance helped Miami to an 8-6 advantage. Akron went on a 5-0 spurt to take an 11-8 lead, but the RedHawks climbed back to take an 18-17 lead. The teams battled back and forth in a heated first set before Akron clinched the opening stanza, 29-27.
• Akron jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second set. The RedHawks trailed 5-3 before the Zips used a 7-1 run to push their lead to 12-4. Miami closed within four late, 19-15, but the Zips went on to the 25-17 win in the second set.
• In the third set, it was Miami taking an early 4-0 lead. The Zips were able to close within two, 8-6, but Miami extended its lead to six, 13-7. Akron pulled within three, but Miami pushed ahead to a 25-18 win. The RedHawks hit an impressive .480 in the third set against the Zips.
• The teams went back and forth early in the fourth set. Neither team led by more than two until the RedHawks used a 9-1 surge that included back-to-back service aces from senior Morgan Seaman to take a 17-7 lead. Miami continued to command the fourth set and cruised to a 25-16 win to send the match to a fifth set.
• The fifth set was tight until Miami pulled out to a 7-4 lead. The RedHawks extended their lead to 10-6, but Akron came back to score five unanswered and take an 11-10 edge. A strong offensive attack with two kills apiece from junior Gaby Harper, junior Sophie Riemersma and one from Wojick iced the match as the RedHawks seized the fifth set, 15-11.

COMMENTS FROM HEAD COACH CAROLYN CONDIT:
"Our experience shined tonight after a few changes were made early in the match. We were effective at both pins with Sophie Riemersma and Sarah Wojick becoming unstoppable. Senior Abigail Huser stepped into the setter role, teaming up with Morgan Seaman to orchestrate the come-from-behind victory. I'm very proud of an amazing team effort with so many contributing to the win." 

NOTES:

• Wojick amassed a career-high 18 kills to lead all players. Harper and Riemersma had 10 kills apiece.
• After struggling in the first two sets, Miami came back to hit .325 for the match. Riemersma hit .600, while Wojick hit .586 and senior Avarie Powell hit .400 for the RedHawks.
• Seaman tied a career-high with four service aces.
• It was the second-straight five-set match between the RedHawks and Zips, who also went to five sets on Thursday night.

 
UP NEXT:
The RedHawks continue a road stretch when they travel to Bowling Green for a pair of matches next week. The teams square off at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 4 before rounding out the two-match series on Friday, Feb. 5 at 5 p.m.