By: Andrew Korba

PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- Senior Marissa Jay (Parma, Ohio/Padua Franciscan) became the eighth player in program history to reach 1,000 career kills as the Hiram College volleyball team won the La Roche (Pa.) Tournament on Saturday.

The Terriers (3-1) were downed in five sets by NCAC rival Oberlin, but rebounded to defeat York (Pa.) 3-1. Hiram's 3-1 overall record on the weekend gave them the six-team tournament title.

Jay entered play on Saturday with 999 career kills and recorded her 1,000th career kill early in the first set against Oberlin (2-2).

Against the Yewomen, Hiram trailed 2-0 before winning the third and fourth sets by scores of 25-18 and 25-22, respectively. Oberlin was able to rally in the fifth, winning the set 15-6 to clinch the match.

Jay led the way with 13 kills, while senior Laura Kelly (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson) added 10 kills and junior Grace Wilson (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Chagrin Falls) recorded nine.

Three Terriers finished with double digit digs, led by senior Megan Schaefer (Elyria, Ohio/Elyria) who had 17. Jay added 13 digs and Kelly finished with 12.

Senior Claire Maier (Huntsville, Ohio/Indian Lake) added 33 assists for Hiram.

The contest was counted as a non-conference tilt, despite the two teams being members of the NCAC. The teams will play a rematch on Wednesday, September 28 in Hiram at 7 p.m. with the match counting towards the respective conference records.

Against York (3-1), it was Hiram who prevailed in four tight sets 25-22, 18-25, 25-23, 25-23.

Jay and Kelly paced the Terrier offensive attack, finishing with 19 and 13 kills, respectively. Freshman Madison Fortune (Lorain, Ohio/Clearview) chipped in with nine kills.

Maier would dish out 40 assists, while Jay added a career-high 18 digs and Schaefer chipped in with 13.

Hiram will be back at it on Tuesday, September 9 as they travel to faceoff against Heidelberg in a non-conference clash at 7 p.m.