By: Abbey Lipcsik

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio -- The Terriers won the first set of their conference opener against Wittenberg, but the Tigers faught back to take the next three sets for the win.

The final scores for each set were 25-22, 16-25, 16-25, and 20-25.

The Terriers are now hold a 9-3, 0-1 NCAC record on the season and the Tigers improve to 7-3, 1-0 NCAC.  

Senior Marissa Jay (Parma, Ohio/Padua Franciscan) continued to be a key component of the Terrier offense, posting a team-high 14 kills. Freshman Mary Williams (Sheffield Village, Ohio/ Brookside) added seven kills and juniors Grace Wilson (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Chagrin Falls) and Jessica Fontana (Thompson, Ohio/ Ledgemont) each chipped in with six.

Senior Claire Maier (Huntsville, Ohio/Indian Lake) dished out 32 assists to go along with seven digs and three kills.

On defense, senior Laura Kelly (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson) posted 32 digs, while Jay had 11 and senior Megan Schaefer (Elyria, Ohio/Elyria) followed with eight.   

The teams exchanged the lead several times during the first set, with neither team leading by more than four. With the score tied at 22, a key block by Williams and Jay followed by a service ace from Maier would give Hiram a 24-22 lead. A Tiger attacking error during the following play secured the set for the Terriers.

The momentum shifted in favor of the Tigers during the middle of the second set. The score was tied once again, but at 15. Wittenberg then took over, scoring off of kills and Terrier attacking errors to take the set.

In the third set, the Tigers continued to hold onto their lead, going on an 8-1 scoring spree. Hiram tried to fight back, but Wittenberg continued to execute offensively to take a 2-1 lead in the match.

The Terriers gave it all they had in the fourth set. Hiram took a 14-8 lead, but the Tigers came back and take a 24-19 lead. Jay then recorded a kill to keep Hiram alive, but a Wittenberg kill gave the set and match to the Tigers.

The Terriers finished the contest with 41 total kills and a .076 hitting mark, while Wittenberg recorded 44 kills and hit .159.

Hiram will be on the road to face DePauw (Ind.) tomorrow for their second conference match of the season at 1 p.m.