GREENCASTLE, Indiana - September 8, 2023 - The Hiram women's volleyball team opened up their afternoon with a 3-1 win over Kalamazoo in Greencastle, Indiana.

The opening set of the match went back and forth the entire way, as neither side was able to pull away. A nice service run from Kayla Franks towards the end of the set was enough to carve out a 1-0 lead.

In the second set, Hiram started off slow, finding itself in a 5-1 hole early, but with kills from Emily Richardson and a pair of service aces from Brooke Fishback they were able to cut that deficit to 5-4. Kalamazoo was trying to create separation in the set, going back up to a 13-9 lead with help from Taylor Stephens and Brittany Miller. The Terriers responded on a service run from Erin Burke and a stellar blocking performance from Emily Richardson. Trailing by one point, Franks recorded a pair of service aces to put Hiram ahead for the first time in the set. Cate Maguire was able to finish off the set for the Terriers with a kill followed by a service ace to carve out a 2-0 advantage.

Starting the third set, the Terriers came out blazing, jumping out to a quick 4-1 lead thanks to another great service run from Franks. Kalamazoo was able to stop the Terriers in their tracks thanks to a service run of its own from Hailey Johnson. Throughout the entirety of the third set, the teams continued to trade points in a seesaw fashion. At the end of the set, Kalamazoo was able to keep the Terriers at arm's length and win, 25-20.

In the fourth set, Hiram again came out swinging on a Franks service run followed by a Fishback service run, which saw the Terriers roll to a 7-2 lead. The team continued to expand on that lead with kills by both Andrya Hanmore and Maguire, followed by an ace by Sophia Grdina. Kalamazoo was able to make it competitive in an attempt to overcome an 8-point deficit, however their efforts weren't enough with Hiram winning the set, 25-22, and the match.

Hiram's second game of the day was against Adrian College. Maguire and Richardson led the way in kills with 13 and 11 respectively.

The first set saw neither side pull ahead early, as the score moved to 6-6 with a service run by Fishback; Hanmore and Maguire helped their teammate keep her serve with a kill each. Adrian was able to start running away with the first set after a 6-point service run from Hailey Farrell. While the Bulldogs were hoping to finish strong in the set, Claire Brunner and Franks got their own kills to draw it back to a 19-17 deficit. Another service run from Fishback tied the score again at 23-23, however a kill from Amber Morris put the first set to bed.

In the second set, the Bulldogs started off hot with kills from Amber Morris and service runs and aces by both Hailey Farrell and Lana Cox; Adrian sprinted to a 7-1 lead. Adrian kept that lead without looking back, even after a late push from the Terriers. Aces by Fishback and more kills from Brunner saw the margin cut to just four (21-17). Adrian eventually took the second set, 25-18. 

In the third set with their backs to the wall, the Terriers got off to a hot start and gained an 8-2 lead with service runs by Franks and more runs and aces from Fishback, too. In the leadoff run, Brunner and Richardson had a pair of kills each to help propel them to the early lead. The Terriers were able to go 2-for-1 on their service runs throughout the set, keeping the gap at a large distance, 19-9. A resilient Adrian team was able to scratch and claw its way back to make it competitive, but a service ace from Maddyn Corcoran sealed the set win.

In the fourth set, everything clicked back on the Adrian side, as a massive 9-0 service run saw the Bulldogs lead early. Bulldogs kept that momentum throughout the set and eventually led, 19-9. Kills from Richardson, Hanmore and Maguire kept Hiram in the match and pull the set back to 23-18. Adrian was able to win two of the final four points to seal the victory.

On the day, the leading hitters for the Terriers were Maguire with 23 kills and Richardson and Franks with 19 and 15 respectively. Erin Burke posted 70 assists.The Terriers also had 20 aces and 24 blocks between the two games.

The Terriers will next be in action on Saturday to finish up the MIAA/NCAC Crossover against Trine University.