OXFORD, Ohio— In the first round of the Battle of the Bricks, the Miami University volleyball team (6-18; 4-10 Mid-American Conference) fell to Ohio University (9-16; 9-5 MAC) on Friday evening at Millett Hall, 25-18, 16-25, 17-25, 21-25.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Miami put up a strong showing from the very beginning of the opening set, gaining the lead and extending it to five points,14-9. Although Ohio went on a 3-0 run towards the end of the set, back-to-back kills from senior Sophie Riemersma clinched the set for the RedHawks, 25-18.
• The second set saw Ohio gain an early lead and the Bobcats went on a 4-0 run to extend their lead to 10-4. Kills from senior Gaby Harper and sophomore Maggie McCrary showed some resistance from the RedHawks, but Ohio went on to win the set, 25-16.
• The third set took off in the same fashion as the second set with the RedHawks trailing 4-7. Sophomore Abby Stratford capitalized on an attack error with an ensuing service ace to narrow the deficit to 8-9. Ohio used a 9-3 run to build an 18-11 advantage. The Bobcats went on to win the third set, 25-17.
• Another Stratford service ace and a kill from McCrary lifted Miami to a quick 3-1 edge. The teams went back and forth. A big block by McCrary and senior Gaby Harper knotted the fourth set, 12-12, but the Bobcats pushed ahead to a 17-13 edge. Miami climbed back to within one, 16-17, off a Stratford kill, but the Bobcats maintained their advantage, taking the fourth set, 25-21.

NOTES:

• Stratford tallied 10 kills and hit a sizzling .556, making no attack errors on 18 attempts. She also tied a career-high with four block assists.
• McCrary also notched double figures in kills with 11 and tallied three blocks.
• Gaby Harper led the RedHawks with 14 digs.

 
UP NEXT:
Miami and Ohio meet again at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 6 in another Battle of the Bricks match-up and the final home match of the season for the RedHawks. It will be Senior Night, and Miami will honor its three seniors: Gaby Harper, Sophie Riemersma and Jennifer Schulze.