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Red and White defeat Wright State

The team encourages freshman Madison Dodd before their match Sept. 8.
The team encourages freshman Madison Dodd before their match Sept. 8.

Michael Solomon, Staff Writer

The team encourages freshman Madison Dodd before their match Sept. 8. (MICHAEL GRIGGS | The Miami Student)

For the Miami University volleyball team, there's no place like home. After playing the first six matches of their season on the road, the Red and White returned home Sept. 8 to host in-state foe Wright State University. The result was the one they wanted, as they defeated the visiting Raiders in a thrilling five set match to earn their second win of the season.

"It feels good to get back on the winning track, especially after last weekend," sophomore setter Amy Kendall said. "It was good to win our first home game in front of a big crowd that supported us from start to finish."

Miami started off the match in the right fashion, taking the first game 25-18 over Wright State. Set two was tight at the beginning, but with the score tied at 12, the Raiders went on a 9-2 run that broke the game open. After two Colleen Loftus kills, the score was 21-17, but Wright State held on for a 25-19 win to get them even.

Set three was another tight one, as neither team was able to take control. The turning point came when Miami led 18-17. Kills from junior Cassie Farrell and Loftus put the Red and White ahead by three, and then redshirt freshman Jackie Lang took over, earning three service aces in a row to give the RedHawks a 25-21 win.

Wright State took the fourth set 25-18, taking advantage of a slow start for the 'Hawks. The decisive fifth set went Miami's way, though, as the RedHawks jumped out to an 8-3 lead. Wright State got within one point at 8-9, but Miami scored the next five points and took the set 15-9 and the match 3-2.

"It feels really good to get a win," Miami Head Coach Carolyn Condit said. "We didn't hit as well as them, but we did a few other things right that really helped us. Our serving was pretty good tonight and it helped us out a lot."

The RedHawks moved to 2-5 on the season with the win. They now focus their attention to this weekend's Michigan/Adidas Invitational, where they will face off against Chicago State, Youngstown State and host Michigan. While it will be a difficult test, the young 'Hawks believe the win will give the confidence they need to play well this weekend.

"It's going to be tough this weekend," Kendall, who led the RedHawks with a career-high 49 assists in the win over Wright State, said. "The teams we play this weekend will be challenging because they all pose different threats, but I think this win will give us the confidence to come out strong and play well."

Miami will take on Chicago State Sept. 10 in Ann Arbor, and will finish the invitational with Youngstown State and Michigan Sept. 11.


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