HIRAM, Ohio - October 11, 2019 – Lindsey Walker turned in her first triple-double of the season, but Hiram Terriers women's volleyball fell just short against the 19th-ranked Muskingum University Fighting Muskies by the final score of 3-2 on Friday at Price Gymnasium.

The Terriers jumped out to an early, five-point lead to open the first set, forcing a Muskingum timeout. However, the Fighting Muskies responded to tie the game and take the lead following the timeout, as the Terriers were unable to break Jessica Cottle's serve.

Down 16-10 and 20-13, Hiram rallied to knot the score up at 23-all, but a service error and kill by Brynn Guist gave Muskingum the first set, 25-23.

Once again, the Terriers surged out to an early lead in the second set. After the Fighting Muskies evened the score at 1-1, Hiram proceeded to score the next eight points off Jaya Martin's serve, taking a 9-1 lead.

Muskingum responded to close the gap to one, but this time Hiram had an answer, opening a five-point lead on the serve of Lindsey Stahl. The Fighting Muskies would again pull within one, 17-16, but Hiram again held off the tie on a kill by Martin before scoring three of the next four to force a Muskingum timeout.

Up 21-18, the Fighting Muskies pulled within one before tying the score at 22 and 23, but Martin and Walker finished off the set with a pair of kills, to give Hiram the set, 25-23, and tie the match at one.

The Terriers and Fighting Muskies went back-and-forth to open the third set, before quick 4-0 run by the Terriers, highlighted by Stahl's ace, forced Muskingum to take a timeout.

Following the timeout, Hiram extending their lead to seven, before the Fighting Muskies pulled within three and eventually tied the set at 16-16. The two sides traded points, each looking to press the advantage in the third set.

With the score tied at 20, Hiram got to quick points on an attack error and ace by Kayla, eventually pulling away to take the third set, 25-22 and take a 2-1 lead.

However, the Fighting Muskies roared back in the fourth set. With the score tied at 10, Muskingum went on a 10-3 run and never looked back, taking the fourth set, 25-16, to force a fifth set.

Muskingum then opened the fifth set by scoring six of the first seven points, taking a 6-1 lead. But Martin and the Terriers climbed back to tie the score at 6-6. Muskingum and Hiram then stood tied at 7-7-7 and 8-8, before the Fighting Muskies again pulled ahead.

Down 11-8, Hiram came out of a timeout with a pair of service aces by Mackenzie Brannon to knot the score at 11, and Melina Lee's kill gave the Terriers a 12-11 lead.

However, the Fighting Muskies would tie the score at 12 and then take advantage of a ball handling error to pull away and take the set, 15-12, and the match, 3-2.

With the loss, Hiram drops to 11-9, while Muskingum moves to 19-2 with the win.

Walker led the Terriers with a triple-double, tallying 12 kills, a season-high 22 assists, 16 digs and five blocks. Martin also added double-digit kills with 10, while Emily Chrustic added a team-high 23 assists.

Defensively, Brannon led the Terriers with 21 digs, while Cole and Chrustic added 17 and 16 apiece.

The Terriers have a quick turnaround as they head to Delaware, Ohio for a tri-match hosted by Ohio Wesleyan on Saturday, Oct. 12. The Terriers will take on the Fighting Bishops at 1:00 p.m. and Hanover at 3:00 p.m.