RedHawks drop both games to undefeated Bowling Green

After a 3-1 start, the Miami women’s volleyball team fell to .500 after losing both contests at Bowling Green this weekend.

The Falcons, who made it to the Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship game last year, dominated the first match and won, 3-0.

The first set wasn’t even close, as two service aces from redshirt junior defensive specialist Taylor Haberland gave Bowling Green an early 13-4 lead. Junior setter Hanna Laube assisted on the team’s last six points to win the set, 25-13.

The second and third sets were closer. Senior right side Sarah Wojick and sophomore outside hitter Lindsay Taylor kept the RedHawks in it with kills, often assisted by senior setter Morgan Seaman.

A kill by senior right side Avarie Powell tied the score at 23 apiece. The Falcons scored the next two points, however, winning the set on a service error from Powell.

Seaman served Miami to a 3-0 lead in the third set. A kill by freshman middle hitter Abby Stratford made the score 8-5, but Bowling Green clawed its way back.

An attack error by Stratford gave the Falcons a 12-11 lead, the team’s first of the frame. They never looked back, as an ace from Haberland clinched the 3-0 win.

The next night, the RedHawks came out looking to even the score. The team took advantage of attack errors from Bowling Green, getting a quick 14-8 lead. Kills from freshman middle hitter Maggie McCrary cushioned the team’s lead, while a late-frame kill from Wojick clinched the first set for Miami.

The second set was the closest frame of the night. The score was tied most of the time, as both teams made attack errors to keep the other team in the game.

Facing a 12-10 deficit, the Falcons scored four quick points, including two blocks from juniors Katelyn Meyer and Nikolija Katanic. The RedHawks answered with a block from McCrary to even the score at 17.

Bowling Green made another short run, extending its lead to 21-18 off a kill from Meyer. The RedHawks rallied, as a kill and a block from junior outside hitter Sophie Riemersma gave the team a 24-23 lead.

An attack error from junior outside hitter Gaby Harper gave the Falcons a 25-24 lead, but Miami didn’t flinch, as a kill by Harper gave the lead back to the RedHawks. A block error by Powell gave the serve back to Bowling Green with the score tied at 26, but an attack error from the Falcons and a kill by sophomore outside hitter Allyson Severance won the set for the RedHawks.

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Sophomore outside hitter Petra Indrova was the difference in the third set for Bowling Green. Six early kills and two straight aces from Indrova helped the Falcons build an 18-11 lead. The RedHawks rallied, but the damage was done, as a kill from Meyer gave the third frame to Bowling Green.

The next two sets belonged to the Falcons. Two straight kills by Meyer gave the team an early 6-2 lead, and a kill from senior middle hitter Katie Kidwell extended the lead to 12-4. Miami’s comeback efforts were futile, as Bowling Green won the fourth set, 25-16.

Two kills a block from Indrova made the score 5-0, Falcons, in the final frame. An ace from Bowling Green extended the lead to 11-4. The RedHawks tried to make a run, as a block by McCrary cut the deficit to 13-12. Still, the Falcons would finish off the set with a kill by Laube to complete the 3-2 comeback.

It was a disappointing result for Miami, as the team is now 3-3. Blowing a 2-0 lead is never good, but the series loss dropped the RedHawks in the standings to fourth place in the MAC east division. The Bowling Green Falcons are now atop the east division with a perfect 6-0 record.

Miami will play its next series at home against Toledo on Thursday, Feb. 11 and Friday, Feb. 12. The games will be at 4 p.m. and 1 p.m, respectively, on ESPN+.

@LukasTheDream

nelso156@miamioh.edu