WOOSTER, Ohio – September 23, 2023 – It was the perfect start to conference play for the Hiram women's volleyball team, with the Terriers outscoring Wooster by 24 points in a straight set victory on Saturday afternoon at Timken Gymnasium in Wooster, Ohio.

The victory gives Hiram a 1-0 record against NCAC competition this season, with the next conference game coming on Sept. 30 against Denison inside Price Gymnasium.

Emily Richardson fueled the victory with 12 kills, while Cate Maguire (7), Andrya Hanmore (6) and Claire Brunner (5) also were part of a lethal Hiram attack. Brooke Fishback and Erin Burke again were the primary distributors, with 17 and 10 assists respectively. Richardson was also a force on the defensive end with a season-high 7 blocks; Brunner (20 digs), Brooke Norris (10) and Fishback (10) were active in pursuing the ball on defense, too.

The tone was set right from the start; Hiram jumped out to a 9-4 and eventually a 20-12 lead in the first set. Richardson had three of the team's first six kills before Brunner had three kills of her own to lift the team to a comfortable 25-17 win in the set.

Head coach Brittany Dye had her team in a groove early in the second set, too, with the team going on a scoring run with Burke serving to take a 9-3 advantage. Wooster would later score six straight points and tie the set at 16-16, but Hiram answered with the final five points of the set – four of which came on Fishback's serve – to take a two-set lead.

The third set was one of Hiram's best of the season; Richardson had five kills and the big-time serving from Brunner propelled the Terriers to a 7-0 run and 20-7 lead. Hanmore had the final kill of the match to seal the conference win.

Hiram now starts a three-game homestand this upcoming Wednesday against Allegheny at 7 p.m. at Price Gymnasium in Hiram, Ohio.