OXFORD, Ohio — The Miami University volleyball team fell to the Ball State Cardinals Friday night in four sets (25-23, 23-25, 19-25, 11-25) at Millett Hall.
Hayden Hicks earned her 1,000th career assist for the RedHawks (4-14, 0-6 MAC). The Cardinals stay unbeaten in the MAC with the victory (8-8, 5-0 MAC).
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Trailing 8-2 early, key kills from Ellie Hanson and Caroline Cermack helped the RedHawks fight back in the opening set. After a timeout, Miami erased a 13-8 deficit to tie the game at 14-14, including a successful challenge by coach Carolyn Condit to give her team a third consecutive point. With a pair of kills and a block from Raegan Lantz, the RedHawks went ahead 18-16 and forced Ball State to call a timeout. Back-to-back kills from Maggie McCrary helped Miami close out the set 25-23.
- The Red and White battled back-and-forth with the Cardinals throughout the second set. After a three-point run by the RedHawks, they were able to tie the game at 10-10. A Brooke Jackson kill off a BSU block attempt evened the score at 20 apiece. Ball State finally pulled out a 25-23 win in the set despite never leading by more than three points.
- In a set featuring 11 ties, Gentry Warrick teamed up with Jackson for a big-time block to knot the score at 12-12. A Warrick kill and a Hanson ace pulled Miami even again at 14-14, and the RedHawks tied the match again at 17-all on a BSU attack error and two service points from Margo Lawson. Ball State pulled ahead and closed the set 25-19.
- Hicks gave out three assists to start the fourth set 5-5 after Miami took an early two-point lead. Later, an emphatic kill from Lantz allowed Miami to close the gap within three points. Kills by McCrary and a kill by Chelsea Williams kept Miami in the match, but the Cardinals gained momentum and pulled away late. Ball State finished the set on a 12-1 run to end the match, 25-11.
NOTES:
- Miami snapped Ball State's string of 17 consecutive sets won in MAC regular-season play by taking the first set.
- Hicks led the RedHawks with 24 assists.
- Cermack made her first start of the 2023 season.
- Hanson tied her season high in kills with 19.
- With 21 digs, Lawson posted her second-highest total of the year.
UP NEXT:
The Red and White travel to Kent State to take on the Golden Flashes Friday, October 13 at 6 p.m.