Miller, Ehlert Rally Volleyball Past Seattle in Five Sets, 3-2

Friday, September 6

Durham, NH

4:30 PM

Brown University

Seattle University

2-0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
Seattle U	25	20	25	24	7	2
Brown	13	25	20	26	15	3

Miller, Ehlert Rally Volleyball Past Seattle in Five Sets, 3-2

9/6/2019 7:24:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

DURHAM, N.H. – Freshman Sophia Miller posted a double-double on 18 kills and 15 digs, senior Makena Ehlert tallied 15 kills and eight digs, and Brown University volleyball rallied past Seattle University in five sets its season opener, 3-2 (13-25, 25-20, 20-25, 26-24, 15-7), on Friday afternoon.

Playing inside the University of New Hampshire's Lundholm Gymnasium at the Holly Young Invitational, the Bears (1-0) came back from set deficits of 1-0 and 2-1 to upend the Redhawks (3-2).

"I'm really proud of our team for the way that they competed tonight," Brown head coach Ahen Kim said. "Seattle is a very good team that has already played multiple matches. For us to come back and find a way to win against them in our season opener is a great way to start the year."

Miller (Dallas, Texas) registered her first collegiate double-double behind her 18 kills and 15 digs. Ehlert (Orange County, Calif.) totaled 15 kills, eight digs, and six assists for her 21^st career match with double-figure kills while sophomore Olivia Dukat (Roswell, Ga.) posted a career-high nine kills. Senior Caroline Biggar (Austin, Texas) added a team-best five blocks.

"Sophia Miller played outstanding for her first match as a collegiate player," Kim said. "She really helped us stay in the match and win important points. Overall, we got contributions from a number of players which is a great sign."

Sophomore Ashley Oelrich (Newberry, Fla.) tallied a career-high 22 digs for her first collegiate match with double-figure digs. At the setter spot, sophomore Kristin Sellers (Menlo Park, Calif.) and junior Bailie Salk (Tiburon, Calif.) recorded 26 assists and 21 assists respectively.

Seattle took the first set, 25-13, establishing leads of 6-1 and 15-6 on its way to the set win. Miller tallied five kills and three digs in the frame while Oelrich posted four digs, and Sellers dished out five assists. The Redhawks hit .464 in the set, landing 13 kills with no errors.

Brown responded with a 25-20 win in set two, knotting the match score at 1-1. Following nine ties in the first half of the set, Seattle moved ahead 16-13. Trailing 18-15, the Bears used a 7-1 run to take a 22-19 lead and closed the set on a 10-2 run overall. Miller registered four kills and five digs in the stanza, and Sellers handed out seven assists. The Bears hit .323 in the set with 14 kills and just four errors.

The Redhawks took a 2-1 set lead with a 25-20 win in set three. After Seattle gained a 15-8 lead, Brown outscored the Redhawks 11-5 over the next 16 points to pull within 20-19 before SU closed the set on a 5-1 run. Miller and Oelrich contributed four kills and five digs respectively.

The Bears answered again, capturing set four, 26-24, and sending the match to a decisive fifth set. Trailing 19-16, the Bears scored four straight points to pull ahead 20-19. With the score level at 24-24, Dukat landed a kill before juniors Eliza Grover (Menlo Park, Calif.) and Tylin Stiller (Evergreen, Colo.) combined for a block to cap the set. In the frame, Miller posted five kills and four digs, Oelrich came up with six digs, and Salk and Sellers combined for 12 assists.

In the fifth set, Brown jumped out to an 8-4 lead at the switch and did not allow Seattle to pull any closer in the second half of the frame. Ehlert landed five kills in the final period. The Bears hit .500 in the frame with nine kills and no errors.

For Seattle, Eve Kershenbaum notched a double-double on 20 kills and 10 digs, Tijana Milojevic posted 17 digs, and Ezgi Ozkan finished with 36 assists.

Next, Brown continues play at the Holly Young Invitational tomorrow – Saturday, Sept. 7 – with matches against New Hampshire (12:30 p.m., ESPN+) and Holy Cross (2:30 p.m.).

Video of all Brown volleyball home contests and all Ivy League matches, home and away, will be broadcast live on ESPN+.