GREENCASTLE, Ind. – September 25, 2021 – Hiram women's volleyball won at DePauw on Saturday winning 3-2, claiming the fifth set by a score of 17-15. The victory is the first of the year in North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) play.
In set one
Madison Burns capped a five-point run picking up a kill forcing a DePauw timeout with Hiram leading 9-4. Burns again had a kill putting the Terriers up 16-11. The Tigers answered with seven straight points gaining the slight lead at 18-16. The tight set continued with both teams locked at 20. With set point on the line at 24-22 for DePauw, Hiram was able to force additional play. The home team scored three times in-a-row winning 27-25.
Hiram responded in the beginning of set two getting out to a 10-6 lead. A four-point run that included two
Kiara Franks kills saw them lead 14-7. Five-straight points for the Terriers strengthened their lead even more with the score being 21-13. Hiram claimed four of the final five points of the set taking set two, 25-16.
DePauw quickly got ahead in set three and didn't slow down. The Tigers got off to an 8-2 start before pushing their lead even more. The home side took eight of the final nine points of the set winning 25-9.
A huge run towards the back half of the fourth set pushed Hiram out in front. Trailing 18-16, Hiram scored eight points in-a-row going up 23-18. The road team would force a fifth set as the Terriers won set four by a score of 25-21.
Set five was one of the tightest sets of the day. After trading points early, DePauw snuck out at an 11-9 advantage. Hiram ripped off four-straight points that included three kills from Franks,
Kayla Cole and
Emily Richardson. With match point on the line at 15-14, Hiram secured the final three points of the set winning 17-15.
Four different Terriers racked up ten or more digs.
Mackenzie Brannon led the team with 43, breaking a program record in the progress. Franks and Cole had 27 and 20 with
Emily Chrustic getting 15. Offensively, Cole and Franks were out in front with 16 and 13. Chrustic had 20 assists and Franks and
Lyndsey Johns had four block assists.
With the victory Hiram improves to 9-7 on the year and 1-1 in conference play. Additionally, the team is 4-2 in away matches as they pick up their first five set victory of the season.
Hiram next plays at Mount Union on Tuesday, September 28 at 7 p.m. in a non-conference matchup.
