Box Score University Hts., OH -- Sept. 28, 2022 -- In a four-set nail-biter, the Hiram Women's Volleyball team lost a non-conference match at John Carroll in the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center on Wednesday evening by set scores of 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-23. John Carroll won its eighth straight match. The Terriers deserved a better fate, but showed true grit against a very hot team.
The Blue Streaks earned the first set with a score of 25-23. After a strong start from Hiram, the Blue Streaks tied the game at 7-7 and battled back and forth to ultimately win the set by two.
In a gritty second set, Hiram built a lead early, and went on to capture the set,, 25-22.
Hiram trailed in the third set, 10-7, but fought back to tie the game at 10-10. Then JCU put together four straight points to put the Blue Streaks on top, 14-10. The lead changed several times down the stretch with Hiram pulling within 14-13 only to see the Blue Streaks take a 17-13 lead. The Terriers came within one point at 17-16 and 18-17 on a sophomore outside hitter
Andrya Hanmore kill shot. But JCU scored the next three points for a 21-17 advantage. The Terriers again fought back and came within one point again at 23-22 before the home team won the final two points of the set to go ahead, two sets to one.
Hiram appeared to be in great shape to make it a five-setter when the Terriers took a 12-11 lead in the fourth set after four straight kill shots; three by freshman outside hitter
Brooke Norris. The set was then tied at 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20. Hiram led 21-20 on another Norris kill shot and extended the lead to 22-20, forcing a John Carroll timeout. JCU won five of the final six points in the set to win the match.
Hiram's offense was led by Norris with 11 kill shots, followed by senior middle
Lyndsey Johns with eight and sophomore outside hitter
Andrya Hanmore with seven (and two blocks). Sophomore setter
Mary Landis topped the team with 21 assists and added two service aces.
Freshman setter/DS
Brooke Fishback contributed 17 assists and 17 digs. Senior libero
Mackenzie Brannon dug up 20 balls to pace the defense and sophomore middle
Emily Richardson turned in a match-high six blocked shots.
The Terriers will take their 9-6 record into a home match this Saturday, Oct. 1, against Wittenberg at noon.
