By: Andrew Korba

HIRAM, Ohio -- The Hiram College volleyball team grinded out a five set (15-25, 26-24, 17-25, 25-21, 15-11) thrilling win over Case Western on Tuesday evening.

Last season, the two teams met at Case Western (18-4) and it was the Spartans prevailing in five sets. Fast forward a year and it was another instant classic, with the Terriers (15-6) coming out on top.

Senior Lindsay Brewer (New Franklin, Ohio/Manchester) led Hiram with 20 kills and junior Marissa Jay (Parma, Ohio/Padua Franciscan) overcame a slow start to finish with a season-high 18.

Junior Laura Kelly (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson) led four Terriers in double digit digs with 35. Lindsay Brewer finished with 21, junior Megan Schaefer (Elyria, Ohio/Elyria) had 16 and senior Katie Barton (Newbury, Ohio/Newbury) added 12. Schaefer also dished out a career-high 49 assists.

Case Western was able to use a 4-0 run to break open a 6-6 tie in the opening set. The Spartans would continue to pull away in the set and win it by a 25-15 count.

It appeared that the Spartans would take a commanding 2-0 lead in the match, as they opened a 23-20 lead late in Set 2. But Hiram would win four straight points, getting two kills from Jay and one each from senior Emily Mortimer (Mogadore, Ohio/Field) and Barton to jump in front 24-23.

After a Case Western kill, Barton put the Terriers in front and Jay finished off the set with a kill, to even the match at 1-1.

The Spartans would jump out to a 17-11 lead midway through the third set, before the Terriers used a quick four point spurt to pull within 17-15. But Case Western would win the set 25-17, winning the final six points in the frame.

The teams would change leads for the majority of the fourth set. Hiram benefitted from three consecutive attack errors to break a 17-17 tie and take a 20-17 lead.

The Spartans would win the next two points, but a kill by Lindsay Brewer gave the Terriers a 21-19 lead. After Case cut the Hiram lead to 22-21, Jay and senior Logan Brewer (New Franklin, Ohio/Manchester) would record kills and Barton would close out the set with a service ace.

In the deciding frame, it was Case who jumped out to an early 7-4 lead. Kills by Lindsay Brewer, Logan Brewer and Jay on three straight points tied the score at 7-7.

The Spartans would capture the next two points, before Hiram won four straight, capped off by a service ace by Logan Brewer, to jump in front 11-9.

Case Western would win the next point and two kills by Lindsay Brewer, sandwiched around an attack error, allowed the Terriers to open a 14-10 lead. The Spartans would win the next point, before Lindsay Brewer ended the match with her 20th kill of the night.

Hiram hit .160 in the match and recorded 58 kills, while Case had 60 kills and a .159 hitting mark.

Haley Kauffman led four Spartans in double figure kills with 16.

The Terriers will be back at it on Friday, when they host Wooster in a NCAC matchup at 6 p.m. The squad will also honor their five seniors following the contest.