RedHawks Win Miami/Best Western Invitational With 3-1 Win Over Mastodons

Saturday, September 5

Oxford, Ohio

3 p.m.

Miami University

5-1,0-0MAC

Purdue Fort Wayne

3-4,0-0Horizon

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Purdue Fort Wayne	24	15	25	22	1
Miami (OH)	26	25	18	25	3

Photo by: Hope Maley

RedHawks Win Miami/Best Western Invitational With 3-1 Win Over Mastodons

9/5/2026 6:35:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Photo Gallery

OXFORD, Ohio — The Miami University volleyball team (5-1) topped Purdue Fort Wayne (3-4) in four sets (26-24, 25-15, 18-25, 25-22) to become tournament champions at the Best Western Invitational for the second consecutive year. Molly Creech was named the Best Western Invitational tournament MVP, and Lindy Radaszewski was named to the All-Tournament Team.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Holland Van Deusen got Miami going with a service ace to open the contest, and the RedHawks used multiple kills to keep the score even at 8-8. The Mastodons looked to pull away at 12-9 before a couple of errors from Purdue Fort Wayne and kills from Creech brought Miami within striking distance at 16-15. Trailing 22-20, the Red and White used a 4-0 run to force a Mastodon timeout at 24-22 and went on to close out the set 26-24.
A service ace from Grace Kreutz and Radaszewski pushed Miami ahead 4-2 in the second set. Leading 4-3, the RedHawks recorded seven unanswered points to stretch the score to 11-3. Back-to-back kills from Lantz, along with a block from Lantz and Chelsea Williams and a kill from Williams, sent Miami into the media timeout on top 15-5. A Creech kill and service ace, along with a kill from Sophia Stallworth, helped secure a 25-15 second-set win.
The Mastodons grabbed a 6-1 advantage after coming out strong in the third set. Down 8-4, the RedHawks made an incredible save as the ball was falling out of bounds, which led to a Williams kill. The Red and White remained in the fight after scoring three straight points, forcing a Purdue Fort Wayne timeout at 13-10. Despite a strong effort, the Mastodons claimed the third set 25-18.
Purdue Fort Wayne started the fourth set 4-1 and continued to hold off the RedHawks at 8-4. Still down by four at 12-8, the Red and White used three kills and a Madison Brown service ace to tie the score at 12 apiece. The RedHawks managed to overtake the Mastodons at 17-16 thanks to a pair of kills from Lydia Michelin and Creech. Numerous attack errors from Purdue Fort Wayne and three more kills from Creech helped seal a 25-22 fourth-set win.

NOTES:

Creech recorded the most kills of the match (23).
Brown and Van Deusen led all players with two service aces.
Miami totaled 60 kills in comparison to 50 from Purdue Fort Wayne.

UP NEXT:
The Red and White hit the road once again for the ISTAP Collegiate Cup on Sept. 11-12. The RedHawks will take on Nicholls, Alabama State and South Carolina State.