The Miami University RedHawks volleyball team is flipping the script in 2024. In their first invitational of the year last weekend, the RedHawks went 3-0 against the Lamar University Cardinals, the Gardner-Webb University Runnin’ Bulldogs and the Norfolk State Spartans.
Last season, Miami finished at the bottom of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The RedHawks ended with a 5-25 overall record and won just one game in conference play.
Fans were introduced to a new coaching staff led by Dan Gwitt in April. With his first wins for Miami, Gwitt expresses that the work up until this moment has finally paid off.
Twelve returners carried forward from the previous coaching staff. Nine new players joined the RedHawks this year, including six first years.
The team arrived in Oxford in July before the coaching staff, meaning the returners had a month to get everyone adjusted.
On top of improving their practical skills, the veteran RedHawks needed to build up the team’s chemistry going into August.
“We really worked on our serving and serve receives, and that really was a game changer for us, just connecting with all the new hitters,” junior setter Hayden Hicks said.
For sophomore outside hitter Raegan Lantz, who contributed 127 kills last season, getting the incomers adjusted to Miami meant showing how they can support each other.
“I think we really focused on that this summer, just letting them know [if] they need anything, to let us know and we’ll help them to the best of our abilities,” Lantz said. “[We are] creating that bond between us where we can trust one another on and off the court.”
What Gwitt saw at the team’s first practice showed that the returners of the team got the new players established with their values and mindset.
“You can tell [from] practice one if they’ve been working hard or not, and I could tell they did a really good job this summer,” Gwitt said.
In the weeks leading up to the invitational, Gwitt and his coaching staff ensured that the team was up to par with the competitive opponents they face this season. Gwitt believes that every team has something to look out for.
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To combat that, the RedHawks don’t focus on what other teams do well, but rather on how to keep the momentum on their side throughout the match.
“We really focused on being loud and getting to build the energy to take control on our side and [play] clean volleyball,” Lantz said.
Miami opened the invitational and the 2024 season against Lamar University. The RedHawks and the Cardinals fought back and forth for the entire first set, extending the score to 26-26. The RedHawks took that set 28-26, and they kept the Cardinals at bay in the second set, winning 25-21. They finished the job with a 25-14 third set victory, winning their first game of the season.
Miami returned to the court later that afternoon against Gardner-Webb. The RedHawks took the first set 25-19 after the Bulldogs tied them at 16-16.
The Bulldogs stayed neck-and-neck with Miami in the second set, tying 6-6, but a stretch of points and strong defense gave the RedHawks a 25-11 win. The RedHawks earned their second win and shutout of the season after coming back in the third set 25-21.
The host of the invitational faced the RedHawks in the final game of the weekend after defeating the Falcons and the Runnin’ Bulldogs. The Spartans took the first set 25-20. The teams were tied early in the second set before a 8-1 run from the RedHawks put them up 13-5, allowing them to take the set 25-14.
Both teams were resilient throughout the third set, but a series of kills and service aces gave the RedHawks a 25-18 third set, one shy of an undefeated weekend.
Three service aces from junior setter Hayden Hicks gave Miami an early lead of 7-1 in the fourth set. The RedHawks continued their rampage, taking the fourth set 25-11 and winning the invitational.
Gwitt said the key to success last weekend and for the rest of the season is to avoid looking back at mistakes.
“[Norfolk State does] some stuff really well offensively, and they’re hard to defend,” Gwitt said. “They played great [in] the first set, and we made some adjustments quickly. We never looked back. We crushed them. I was really proud that we hit that first wall of real adversity and we were able to make changes and execute and continue that confidence through the rest of the match.”
Three invitationals remain on the schedule before the RedHawks finally play in Oxford and begin conference play. Last year’s performance in the MAC left a lot to be desired, but the RedHawks feel confident that their skills will advance over the next few weeks.
“Just using these tournaments to get us ready for MAC play and [continue] to work out the kinks,” Lantz said. “I’m just so excited to see what we can do. I think we’re [going to] surprise a lot of people, and the MAC better watch out.”
The RedHawks compete next in the Evansville Invitational from Sept. 6-7. Following that, they will play at the Valparaiso Invitational and the Northern Kentucky Invitational on Sept. 13-14 and Sept. 19-20 respectively.
Miami faces their first MAC opponent in the Central Michigan University Chippewas on Sept. 26.
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