CINCINNATI, Ohio— The Miami University volleyball team (3-2) came up just short to Xavier (5-0) in five sets (19-25, 26-24, 25-19, 22-25, 11-15) at the Xavier Tournament on Friday night.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Xavier began the first set by taking an 8-4 lead. Back-to-back kills from Lauren Coyne and a Lindy Radaszewski service ace brought Miami within striking distance at 10-8. The Musketeers looked to close out the set at 21-14 before the RedHawks went on a 5-1 run to bring the set to 22-19. Xavier managed to get out of the first set with a 25-19 win.
- Early in the second set, Molly Creech's pair of kills kept things even at 5-5. When Xavier went up 9-5, Miami quickly responded by outscoring the Musketeers 7-1, claiming a 12-10 advantage. As the set progressed, Xavier pulled ahead 22-17, but kills by Grace Kreutz and Lydia Michelin narrowed the margin and forced a Musketeer timeout at 22-19. Trailing 24-21, the Red and White surged with five straight points to secure the second-set victory.
- The Musketeers came out strong in the third set, as they took a 6-3 lead. Miami responded with an 8-1 run to separate from the Musketeers at 11-7. Two kills from Kreutz and another from Coyne led to Xavier calling a timeout at 15-9. Despite a strong push from the Musketeers, the Red and White sealed the third set 25-19.
- Numerous kills and a Gentry Warrick solo block gave the RedHawks an 8-7 lead in the fourth set. The Musketeers answered by pulling ahead 15-11 midway through the set. Miami scored five consecutive points to reclaim the advantage at 16-15. The RedHawks looked to close things out at 22-20 until Xavier ended the set on a 5-0 run to steal set four 25-22.
- A service error and a Chelsea Williams kill gave Miami the first two points of the final set. Kills from Michelin and Kreutz kept Miami in the fight at 9-8 in favor of the Musketeers. Warrick put down a kill and a block assist, but the effort fell just short, as Xavier ended the fifth set with a 15-11 win.
NOTES:
- Radaszewski recorded the most service aces (three) of the match.
- Warrick is now tied for sixth in career solo blocks (64) for the RedHawks.
UP NEXT:
Miami continues play at the Xavier Tournament tomorrow against Eastern Kentucky at 11 a.m.