HIRAM, Ohio - October 28, 2023 - The Hiram women's volleyball team officially secured a spot in the NCAC Tournament despite losing in four sets to Ohio Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon at Price Gymnasium: 25-16, 6-25, 18-25, 19-25.

The team's final home game of the regular season provided a special opportunity to honor Amber Fox as part of the Senior Day festivities.

Fox, who has been part of the team since the 2020 season, has posted a career-high 48 kills and 30 blocks this season. She was joined by her parents prior to the game to celebrate a career that has made a major impact on the program, both on and off the court.

Following the pregame ceremony, Hiram carried plenty of momentum in the first set, jumping out to 5-0 and 10-2 leads. The Battling Bishops closed the margin to four, but the home momentum proved to be too strong in a 25-16 start to the match.

Junior Cate Maguire had 6 of her team-high 12 kills in the set, with Emily Richardson tallying 4 of her 10 kills as well. Sophomore Brooke Fishback had seven assists in the first set as one of the team's primary setters.

Ohio Wesleyan would regain the form that has made it the top-seeded team in the conference, winning each of the final three sets by more than five points. Freshman Natalie Dieball led all student-athletes in the match with 17 kills, while Olivia Osuna and Lily Bechina combined for 47 assists.

Despite the loss, Hiram proved that it could compete against a team that is now 20-5 overall and 6-1 in the NCAC. The Terriers held a 14-13 lead in the third set and trailed by just one point late in the fourth set (19-18), but the balance of the Battling Bishops was the difference.

Hiram will play a pair of road non-conference games against Penn State Behrend on Tuesday and Marietta on Saturday before traveling to Oberlin to take on the Yeowomen on Tuesday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. in the quarterfinals of the NCAC Tournament. The Terriers have competed in the NCAC Tournament in every season since 2000.