PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania - September 25, 2024 - Hiram started and finished strong in a four-set victory over a future PAC opponent, Chatham, on Wednesday evening: 25-22, 20-25, 25-17, 25-21.

The Terriers posted their best hitting percentage in the first (.206) and fourth (.135) sets; the team erased a five-point deficit in the first set and held a lead as large as seven points in the fourth set.

Karissa Zelenak picked a good day to have a career performance, posting a career-high 11 kills and nine digs, while also tying a career-high with five total blocks (also at Wooster on September 23, 2023). First-year Sydney Wenzel added nine kills behind the consistent setting of Kelly Hoffman (16 assists) and Tori Burdette (12 assists).

Hiram trailed 12-7 in the first set, a deficit that the team overcame behind the serving of Hoffman and Brooke Norris. The Terriers would later piece together a pair of 3-0 runs, gaining enough momentum to never look back and eventually take the first set, 25-22.

Chatham found its form in the second set, winning 13 of 15 points in the early stages of the set. Alyssa Leskovac and Becca Gesner both had 10 kills throughout the match, many of which came in the set that leveled the match at one set apiece.

The Terriers were smooth sailing from that point forward, with the balanced offensive and defensive play preventing Chatham from gaining a lead larger than two points in each of the final two sets. Zelenak had five of her 11 kills in the final set to punctuate a memorable day for the senior from Stow, Ohio.

Hiram will now turn its attention to a critical tri-match, where it will host Wooster and Allegheny on Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. from Price Gymnasium in Hiram, Ohio.