By: Andrew Korba

BEREA, Ohio -- The Hiram College volleyball team defeated both Franciscan and Westminster (Pa.) on the first day of the Marcia French Memorial Invitational on the campus of Baldwin Wallace.

The Terriers push their record to 4-3 on the season.

Against Franciscan (3-3), senior Lindsay Brewer (New Franklin, Ohio/Manchester) paced Hiram with a 20 kills. Senior Katie Barton (Newbury, Ohio) also recorded double digit kills with 10, while posting a .318 hitting percentage.

Junior Claire Maier (Huntsville, Ohio/Indian Lake) dished out 47 assists. Defensively, junior Laura Kelly (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson) had 12 digs and junior Megan Schaefer (Elyria, Ohio/Elyria) added 11.

A kill by Barton and service ace from Kelly gave Hiram a 23-21 lead in the opening set. After the Barons got a point, senior Emily Mortimer (Mogadore, Ohio/Field) would register a kill to push the Terriers lead back to 24-22.

Franciscan would win the next point, but a kill by Lindsay Brewer gave Hiram the first set.

The Terriers trailed in the second frame 23-21 late, but would reel off the final four points to capture the set 25-23.

Franciscan would capture a tight third set by a 26-24 count, but Hiram stormed back and never trailed in the fourth set en route to a 25-10 victory.

The Terriers recorded 55 kills in the victory and hit .283 as a team.

Against Westminster (0-7), the Terriers cruised to a straight set 25-16, 25-16, 25-23 win.

It was Lindsay Brewer leading the charge, posting a double-double with 14 digs and 12 kills. Barton finished with 10 kills and junior Marissa Jay (Parma, Ohio/Padua Franciscan) finished with nine.

Maier dished out 33 assists, with senior Ashton Webb (Wadsworth, Ohio/Norton) and Jay each recording eight digs.

The Terriers will close out the tournament on Saturday with two more matches. Hiram will take on Thiel (Pa.) at 10 a.m. and will also face Buffalo State (N.Y.) at noon.