OXFORD, Ohio—Senior Gaby Harper recorded her 1,000th career dig, but it was not enough as the Miami University volleyball team (2-13; 0-5 Mid-American Conference) dropped a four-set decision to Western Michigan University (13-4; 6-0 MAC) in Millett Hall on Friday night, 29-27, 14-25, 16-25, 21-25.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Broncos jumped out to a 12-7 lead in the first set. Miami chiseled away and knotted the set at 13-13 off a freshman Brooke Cirigliano kill. Miami used a 5-0 spurt to push ahead to a 20-15 edge, but WMU battled back to take a 24-23 edge. Back-to-back kills from Gaby Harper closed out a close set with the RedHawks on top, 29-27.
• WMU again forged an early 12-7 lead but rolled to a 25-14 win in the second set.
• The teams battled through the early stages of the third set with a block from Cirigliano and freshman Lydia Harper tying the stanza at 7-7. The Broncos went on an 8-1 run to take a lead they would not relinquish, taking the third set, 25-16.
• The Broncos built a 15-9 lead in the fourth set. Miami climbed within three 18-15 and trailed three late in the set, but were unable to overtake WMU who collected a 25-21 win in the fourth set.

 
NOTES:

• Gaby Harper became the 18th member of Miami's 1,000 dig club. She need 12 digs entering the night to reach the milestone and finished with 18 digs, 12 kills and two solo blocks.
• Senior Sophie Riemersma led Miami with 14 kills.
• Freshman Margo Lawson notched 23 digs to lead all players.
• Lydia Harper posted 35 assists and three blocks.

 
UP NEXT:
Miami returns to the Millett Hall court to host Northern Illinois at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 9.