By: Andrew Korba

TIFFIN, Ohio -- The Hiram College volleyball team dropped a 4-set battle (20-25, 25-21, 25-23, 25-14) at Heidelberg on Tuesday evening.

The Terriers are now 3-2 on the season, while the Student Prices, who received votes in the most recent American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll, improve to 4-1.

Senior Marissa Jay (Parma, Ohio/Padua Franciscan) posted a match-high 18 kills.

Senior Laura Kelly (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson) added nine kills and and junior Grace Wilson (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Chagrin Falls) chipped in with eight.

Senior Claire Maier (Huntsville, Ohio/Indian Lake) dished out 37 assists to go along with six kills.

Defensively, senior Megan Schaefer (Elyria, Ohio/Elyria) and Kelly each posted 15 digs. Jay also reached double digit digs with 12 on the evening.

The opening set was tight, before the Terriers broke a 9-9 tie with kills from Kelly and Jay. Hiram would hold the lead and used a late 5-1 run to pull away for a 25-20 victory.

Set 2 saw Heidelberg start out strong and build a 10-3 lead. The Terriers would get as close as three points at 24-21 in the frame, but could get no closer, falling 25-21.

In the third set, Hiram found themselves trailing 19-16, but rallied to knot the score at 20-20. The two teams would exchange points six straight times, before the Student Princes benefitted from back-to-back kills by Mariah Sullivan to take the set 25-23.

Heidelberg carried the momentum into the fourth set and built a 14-5 lead and never looked back en route to the win.

Sarah Parker had a team-high 16 kills for the Student Princes, while Sullivan added 14 on a .480 hitting percentage.

The Terriers finished the contest with 45 total kills and a .145 hitting mark, while Heidelberg recorded 58 kills and hit .257.

Hiram will play next on Friday as it plays its first two contests at home. The Terriers will take on Hilbert (N.Y.) at 4 p.m. and Marietta at 8 p.m.