HIRAM, Ohio – October 9, 2021 – Hiram women's volleyball dropped a five set match, 3-2, against Ohio Wesleyan on Saturday inside Price Gymnasium.

The first set between the Terriers and the Battling Bishops was neck-and-neck with neither team taking a strong lead early on. Nearly every run was answered as both teams stayed tight until late. Hiram scored five-of-six points taking a 20-16 lead after a Kayla Cole kill. OWU answered that with five straight points taking a 22-21 lead. The Terriers scored the final three points of the set with Emily Richardson getting the 25^th point on a kill.

Both teams remained tight early as Hiram capped off a five point run leading 8-5 after an OWU attack error. The Battling Bishops got some breathing room late in the set with a 19-15 lead. Despite trailing 23-19, the Terriers answered and tied the set up at 24 after two attack errors by the road team. Ohio Wesleyan scored the final two points of the set, winning 27-25.

Hiram jumped ahead in the middle of set three and didn't look back. Seven straight points were scored by Hiram with the final two coming via Kayla Cole service aces. The Terriers began to break away with a 17-10 lead, with the final four points of the set going their way. Kiara Franks picked up a kill for the 25^th point in the set.

Similar to set four, Ohio Wesleyan flipped the script in set four breaking away in the middle stages. The Battling Bishops scored six straight points taking a 16-8 lead. A late fight saw Hiram trail 21-17, but the comeback wouldn't be enough to hold on. The road team scored four of the final five points winning set four, 25-18.

The Terriers started the fifth and final set with a 5-2 lead after an OWU attack error. Eight straight points were scored by the Battling Bishops as the road side held an 8-5 lead. With OWU holding an 11-7 lead, the team two began a back-and-forth for the 15^th point. OWU picked up three of the final four points winning the set 15-11.

Cole and Franks led the team with 14 kills each. Emily Chrustic and Mary Landis tallied the double-digit mark in assists with Chrustic having 27 and Landis 11.

Defensively, Mackenzie Brannon had 19 digs and Cole had 12.

With the defeat the team is now 10-10 and 1-3 in North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) play. The team will play at Case Western in a non-conference match on Wednesday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m.