HIRAM, Ohio – September 17, 2021 – Hiram women's volleyball dropped two matches vs. North Park Friday inside Price Gymnasium. The Terriers lost match one 3-1, and then fell in a hard fought five-set, match, 3-2.

MATCH 1: North Park 3, Hiram 1
In set one, North Park went on a run where the visitors took seven of eight points taking a 10-6 lead. As the set continued, Kiara Franks had two kills within a three-point swing as the Terriers climbed back in the match. The pendulum swung back in the opposite direction as North Park went on a big run scoring seven points in an eight-point portion. Closing out the set, the Vikings took four straight points winning 25-17.

Set two was neck-and-neck in the beginning, as Hiram took the slight 13-11 lead after an attack error by North Park. The trading of points would continue as both team sat tied at 16. The home side exploded closing out the set with eight straight points that included three Kayla Cole kills.

The Vikings rallied in set three coming out of the gate strong. NPU went up 9-3 in set three and didn't look back. An Emily Richardson kill stopped a Vikings run, but Hiram still trailed 14-6. The home side continued to fight late, capitalizing on three North Park mistakes trailing 21-13. The Vikings took the final four points winning 25-13.

North Park again got off quickly in set four taking a 9-4 lead. A four-point run in the middle stages of set two would seal the deal for the Vikings taking a 17-8 lead. Two Vikings errors and a Kayla Cole kill saw Hiram fight back late trailing 23-18. The comeback attempt would fall short with NPU winning 25-18.

Franks and Cole led the team with 11 kills offensively. Emily Chrustic and Mary Landis reached the double digit mar in assists at 18 and 11. In the digs department, three Terriers reached ten or more. Mackenzie Brannon led the squad with 14 followed by Cole with 13 and Miya Gotto with ten.

MATCH 2: North Park 3, Hiram 2  
Set one ensued with a steady back-and-forth early. The match stayed tied at 14 as North Park slowly began to make a move. The Vikings scored three-straight points followed by a four point run later on with a 22-17 lead. North Park closed it out on a three point run winning 25-18.

Set two saw both teams go on runs with North Park's coming early. Seven straight points for the Vikings saw them take a 9-4 lead. After that run, the Vikings extended their lead to 15-5. Hiram slowly crept back in cutting the lead to 20-17. As they did in set one, North Park closed on a solid run, scoring four straight points winning 25-18.

Down two sets to none, Hiram started set three up 7-2 after a Sydney Jacquin kill. North Park cut the lead to 15-11, but Hiram stayed steady through the rest of the set. Emily Richardson closed out the set with a kill as Hiram scored five of the last six points winning 25-16.

Hiram and North Park remained tight through the middle of set four with the score tied at 11. The Terriers created some breathing room after a Viking error that closed a run that saw the home side take a 20-15 lead. NPU fought back, but it wasn't enough as Hiram won set four 25-20.

In the decisive set five Hiram and North Park were dead even at five all. The Vikings crept ahead taking five of six points and a 11-7 lead. The built up lead proved to come in handy as North Park won set five 15-10 claiming match two victory.

In match two Cole had 12 kills with Richardson, Franks and Jacquin all having nine. Madison Burns had 18 assists with Landis claiming 12. Brannon and Cole led the way with 16 and 14 digs.

With the two defeats Hiram is now 7-5 on the season. The second match was just the second completion to reach five sets so far this campaign.

The team has a quick turnaround playing at Pitt. Greensburg on Saturday, September 18 at 1 p.m.