THIS WEEKEND: The RedHawks fly west to participate in the Redbird Classic Sept. 8-9. Miami takes on Saint Louis (Friday, Sept. 8), New Mexico State (Friday, Sept. 8) and Illinois State (Saturday, Sept. 9). 

ABOUT SAINT LOUIS & SERIES WITH THE BILLIKENS: Saint Louis finished 18-13 (10-8 Atlantic 10) in 2022. The Billikens return 12 letterwinners, including all seven starters, and bring in three newcomers for the 2023 campaign. Saint Louis is led by Jillian Mattingly, who made second team all-conference in 2022. They will be guided by first-year head coach Andrea Beaty, who completed her collegiate career as a Billiken. This will be the 11th match that has ever been played between Miami and Saint Louis. The all-time series is tied at 5-5, with the teams last facing off in 2018. Emily Henken currently leads Saint Louis with 3.62 kills per set (76 total kills) and Kate Aupperle is leading all Billikens with 8.32 assists per set (183 total assists). Defensively, Carlie Rodgers has averaged a team-high 3.96 digs per set (95 total digs) and Jillian Mattingly has recorded the most blocks per set with 0.58 (14 total). 

ABOUT NEW MEXICO STATE & SERIES WITH THE AGGIES: New Mexico State is working with a new cast of athletes after 10 players from last year's team departed. The Aggies went 16-12 (7-7 Western Athletic). They are led by veteran head coach Mike Jordan, who is the winningest coach in program history. This is the second all-time meeting for Miami and New Mexico State. Ryleigh Whitekettle leads New Mexico State with 3.83 kills per set (69 total kills) and Bianca Perez tops all Aggies with 6.17 assists per set (111 total assists). Darian Markham has averaged a team-high 5.28 digs per set (136 total digs) and Maggie Lightheart leads all Aggies with 1.07 blocker per set (15 total). 

ABOUT ILLINOIS STATE & SERIES WITH THE REDBIRDS: Illinois State is led by second-year head coach Allie Matters after going 12-17 (5-13 Missouri Valley) in 2022. The Redbirds return six letterwinners from last year's team. The all-time series is 9-5 in favor of Illinois State. The last time Miami and the Redbirds faced off, the RedHawks secured a 3-1 win on Sept. 20, 2019. Aida Shadewald currently leads Illinois State with 2.65 kills per set (53 total kills) and Emily Weber is leading all Redbirds with 7.63 assists per set (145 total assists). Mari Hinkle has averaged a team-high 5.20 digs per set (104 total digs) and Cassie Jordan has produced 0.88 blocks per set (seven total).

TELEVISION: Miami's match against Illinois State will be available on ESPN+. 

UP NEXT: The RedHawks stay on the road for the Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational Sept. 15-16. Miami takes on SIUE (Friday, Sept. 15), Purdue Fort Wayne (Friday, Sept. 16) and Valparaiso (Saturday, Sept. 16).

MIAMI INVITATIONAL: Miami is coming off hosting an invitational that included Cleveland State, Eastern Kentucky and Florida Atlantic. Despite numerous close contests, the RedHawks went 0-3 over the weekend. Sophomore Ellie Hanson was named to the Miami Invitational all-tournament team for her play. Hanson totaled 46 kills, 51 digs, four service aces and two blocks over the weekend. 

STRONG START: Miami finished their first weekend of competition 2-1, after defeating both Alcorn State and Memphis in three sets. Sophomores Ellie Hanson and Hayden Hicks were named to the Tiger Brawl all-tournament team. Hicks played a large part in Miami's success, totaling 68 assists, 10 digs, six kills, four blocks and four service aces over the weekend. She also hit .333 over the entire tournament. Hanson led all RedHawks with 26 digs over the weekend, averaging 2.89 per set, and added two blocks. Hanson was also a force on the offensive end, totaling a team-high 32 points on the weekend. She led Miami with 26 kills and added five service aces as well.

GREAT RETURNS: Of its 15-player roster, Miami returns 12 RedHawks from the 2022 roster. Seniors Maggie McCrary and Taylor Nomanson lead a solid veteran group. They are joined by juniors Caroline Cermack, Brooke Cirigliano, Margo Lawson and Gracie Norris. The sophomore class is comprised of Ellie Hanson, Hayden Hicks, Emily Morgan and Gentry Warrick. Also returning is redshirt-sophomore Brooke Jackson and redshirt-freshman Amyah Cooper. 

FRESH FACES: Miami boasts three newcomers on its 2023 roster, who will look to make their impact this season. The talented group of newcomers are Raegan Lantz, Breannah Peterson, and Chelsea Williams.

ECLIPSING 750 CAREER WINS: With a 3-0 win versus Buffalo on Jan. 22, 2021, Miami head coach Carolyn Condit posted her 750th career win. Condit owns a 778-610 career record in her 44th season as a head coach. Owning more victories than any coach in any sport in the history of Miami's storied athletic department, known as the Cradle of Coaches, Condit holds a 679-532 record and is in her 40th season in charge of the Red and White. Condit is the only volleyball coach in the history of the Mid-American Conference to win more than 300 league matches, holding a conference mark of 375-247.

MIAMI BY THE NUMBERS

898 All-Time Wins

679 Head Coach Carolyn Condit Miami Wins Most by any Miami Coach in any sport

400 All-Time MAC Wins

14 NCAA/NIVC Postseason Appearances

12 Regular-Season MAC Titles

12 RedHawk Returners

12 Consecutive AVCA Academic Awards

7 MAC Tournament Titles

3 RedHawk Newcomers

4 Head Coaches All-Time