RedHawks go 1-1 in the Battle of the Bricks

The Miami RedHawks faced the Ohio Bobcats in a two-game series last weekend for the “Battle of the Bricks.”

After dropping the first contest Friday at Millett Hall, the RedHawks rebounded Saturday to split the series.

Both teams showed up ready to play on Friday night, and the first set was a battle from the beginning.

Both teams traded the lead, with the score only ever separated by three points.

In the end, it was a kill from junior outside hitter Mariana Rodrigues that won the set for the Bobcats, 25-23.

Ohio pulled ahead quickly in the second set. Miami’s first lead of the game came from a kill by senior right side Avarie Powell, putting it up 6-5.

The teams went back and forth for a few points until the Bobcats went on a scoring spree to reclaim their lead, 15-11.

The RedHawks were not able to come back from the deficit, losing the second set, 25-21.

The third set started off as a back and forth battle, but when Ohio scored to give itself an 8-7 lead, it stayed on top for the remainder of the set.

The Bobcats won the third set 25-22 to take the match 3-0.

“Tonight was not a good match for the RedHawks,” head coach Carolyn Condit said. “Tomorrow, we’re going to have to clean up our offense.”

And that is exactly what they did.

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Saturday’s match began looking much like the night before.

Ohio pulled a 2-1 lead in the first set and lost it only when a kill by freshman middle hitter Maggie McCrary put the ’Hawks up 19-18.

Miami scored only one more point in that game from a net violation, as the Bobcats then scored six points in a row to take the set 25-20.

The RedHawks took an early lead in the second set, starting off strong with a block from McCrary and senior right side Sarah Wojick to put the team up 1-0.

The team held its lead until Ohio scored five points in a row, putting it up 8-6. The RedHawks did not have the lead again.

The Bobcats dominated the rest of the set to win 25-16 and put them up 2-0 in the match.

Miami came out for the third set hungry for a win.

The ’Hawks scored the first point of the game. Junior outside hitter Sophie Riemersma was on fire with three kills within four points. Miami kept its lead until the Bobcats tied it up at 15, but the RedHawks were back on track right away.

They won the set, 25-22, when Ohio hit the ball out of bounds. The Bobcats never had the lead.

The fourth set was a constant battle for both teams.

There was no clear leader until Ohio’s head coach Deane Lewis was issued a red card to put the ’Hawks up 8-6 after arguing with the officials on a net violation call.

The set continued to go back and forth until a kill by sophomore outside hitter Allyson Severance established Miami’s lead, 20-18.

The RedHawks continued to rally, and a kill from Severance won the set for the RedHawks, 25-21.

The match was then tied at 2-2.

Miami took an early lead in the fifth set when a service ace by senior libero Abigail Huser put the team up 3-2.

The ’Hawks maintained their lead for the remainder of the set, and a block from Riemersma and Powell secured the 15-11 win for the set and won the match for the RedHawks, 3-2.

Wojick was named Player of the Game and led the team with 16 kills. Senior setter Morgan Seaman led the team with 49 assists.

“I’m real proud of them,” Condit said. “Tonight, they found a way.”

Condit said that being down 2-0 and coming back for a win showed the girls that nothing is impossible when they believe in each other and work together.

The RedHawks are now 8-7 in the Mid-American Conference.

Miami will continue its season on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Ball State.

@baileyalthauser

althaube@miamioh.edu