By: Abbey Lipcsik

WOOSTER, Ohio – The Volleyball team defeated the Fighting Scots in a five-set thriller on Saturday afternoon.

Hiram now stands at 14-6 (3-3, NCAC), while Wooster falls to 14-6 (2-4, NCAC).

Senior Marissa Jay dominated the Terrier offense. The reigning North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Volleyball Player of the Week led the team in kills (24) and posted a .218 attacking percentage. Junior Grace Wilson also had a strong offensive performance, recording 15 kills and a .281 attacking percentage. Senior Claire Maier dished out 52 assists to go along with six digs and three kills.

On the defensive end, Megan Schaefer and Jay had 24 and 19 digs, respectively.

In the first set, the teams were neck-and-neck. At a 15-14 score in favor of the Terriers, Hiram scored six straight points to give the Terriers a 21-14 lead. The Fighting Scots answered back with their own five-point scoring streak to cut the Terrier lead to three (22-19). Although Wooster tried to make a comeback, Hiram prevailed and took the first set away from the Fighting Scots.

The Terriers continued their momentum into the beginning of the second set. Hiram held an 8-2 lead, but Wooster slowly chipped away at the Terrier lead. Wooster eventually came back to take a 13-12 lead. The score was tied five times before consecutive kills by senior Laura Kelly and Jay in addition to a Wooster attacking error secured the 26-24 victory and 2-0 lead for Hiram.

The third set was the turning point of the match. The Fighting Scots came out strong with an early 3-0 lead. Wooster continued to hold their lead, which ranged from one to five points, through the entire set. Despite two consecutive kills by Jay and Wilson, the Fighting Scots won the set (25-23) to cut the Terriers' lead to one.

The fourth set was similar to the third. Although the scores were tight, Wooster held their lead and eventually jumped out to a 19-12 lead. The Terriers then outscored the Fighting Scots 6-3 in the next eight plays, making the score 22-18. A Wooster kill and service ace put the Fighting Scots within one point of forcing a deciding set, but a kill by Jessica Fontana on top of two aces from Laura Kelly and a Wooster attacking error kept the set alive. The Fighting Scots were able to get a kill and take the match into a fifth set.

Both teams battled back and forth through the final set, with four lead changes leading up to the very end. When the score was all tied up at 15, the Fighting Scots posted a series of attacking and service errors. Although Anna Emmick recorded a kill for Wooster, it wasn't enough and the Terriers came away with the victory.

The Terriers play next on Saturday when they face Ohio Wesleyan in a 1:00 p.m. matchup.