WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Miami University volleyball team dropped a 0-3 (20-25, 16-25, 19-25) decision to 15th-ranked Purdue to open the Stacey Clark Classic on Friday. The RedHawks fall to 7-5 on the season, while the Boilermakers improve to 9-1.

“Our passing and serving was not up to par tonight and Purdue’s high-powered offense was impressive,” said head coach Carolyn Condit.

Senior outside hitter Olivia Rusek led Miami with eight kills, while senior right side hitter Katie Tomasic finished with seven. Senior libero Maeve McDonald led the way with 15 digs, while redshirt junior setter Mackenzie Zielinski finished with 17 assists.

Junior outside hitter Stela Kukoc recorded an early kill, but Purdue built a 6-3 lead to begin set one. The RedHawks held tough, trading side outs with the Boilermakers as senior right side hitter Katie Coverdale and Rusek each had kills. Purdue went on a 7-2 run to create its largest lead at 18-11. The Red and White answered with a Kukoc service ace, a block by sophomore middle hitter Haley Stewart and Rusek and kills from Tomasic and Coverdale as part of a 7-4 run that closed the deficit to four at 17-21. Facing set point at 18-24, Miami fought it off twice with a kill from sophomore middle hitter Margaret Payne and a Boilermaker attack error, but Purdue scored next to take a 25-20 win.

Rusek had two kills, while Tomasic had one as the teams played to a 4-4 tie to begin set two. The Boilermakers followed with a 7-1 run to take control at 12-7. Rusek and Kukoc each had kills as the RedHawks scored four straight to pull within one. A 10-3 answer from Purdue put the score out of reach at 22-14. Senior right side hitter Courtney Bemis had two kills, but the Boilermakers were able to finish off a 25-16 victory.

It did not start well for the RedHawks in set three as Purdue built an 8-2 lead and forced an early timeout. The Boilermakers scored next out of the break to make it 9-2, but Miami began to fight back. It started with back-to-back kills from Tomasic. Sophomore outside hitter Taylor Daignault had a kill and service ace, while Payne recorded two blocks as part of an impressive 8-3 run that cut the deficit to two at 10-12. Purdue pushed the advantage back to four, but Rusek and Bemis each had kills as the `Hawks close to within 16-18. That was as close as Miami could get, as the Boilermakers finished with a 7-3 run to take the set 25-19 and win the match in three sets.

The RedHawks will complete play at the Stacey Clark Classic when they take on Loyola (Chi.) on Saturday at 3 p.m.