By: Abbey Lipcsik

HIRAM, Ohio -- The Hiram College volleyball team grinded out a five set (23-25, 22-25, 25-20, 25-19, 15-12) thrilling win over John Carroll on Tuesday evening.

Senior outside hitter Marissa Jay (Parma, Ohio/ Padua Franciscan) dominated the entire match, recording 32 kills and a .347 hitting mark. Senior Claire Maier (Huntsville, Ohio/ Indian Lake) also dished out 66 assists in the match.    

On the defensive end, seniors Laura Kelly (Massillon, Ohio/ Jackson), Megan Schaefer (Elyria, Ohio/ Elyria), and Marissa Jay had 21, 17 and 17 digs, respectively.

In the first two sets, Hiram and John Carroll were neck-and-neck. However, the Blue Streak offense prevailed to take the sets away from the Terriers. 

The third set was the key turning point of the match. After a momentum shift in favor of Hiram, the Terriers defeated the Blue Streaks by five and six points in the third and fourth set to force a deciding set. Although JCU put up a strong fight, the combined eleven kills made by Jay, Kelly and juniors Grace Wilson (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Chagrin Falls) and Jessica Fontana (Thompson, Ohio / Ledgemont) secured the victory for the Terriers.    

The Terriers will be back at it on Saturday, when they head to Wittenberg for their NCAC conference opener at 1 p.m. in a NCAC matchup at 6 p.m.