SANDUSKY, Ohio - August 30, 2025 - Hiram roared back after facing a 2-0 deficit, but ultimately lost in four sets to Saint Mary's College to wrap up the Great Lakes Cross Over on Saturday morning: 25-20, 25-21, 13-25, 25-17.

The Belles won the first two sets, 25-20 and 25-21, before Hiram dominated the third set and regained the form that lifted it to a pair of victories on Friday. Saint Mary's rallied back from a 7-point deficit in the fourth set to eventually take the match, but the Terriers still finished the weekend with a winning record and a lot to build upon moving forward in the non-conference schedule.

The trio of Sofia Smotek (18 kills, three aces), Megan Chiang (15 kills) and Maggie Riley (13 kills, 15 digs) were assertive throughout the match; Avery Clay added another four blocks and Kelly Hoffman recorded 36 assists and 19 digs as the team's starting setter.

Hiram was in control in the third set, when it recorded a hitting percentage of .326 (18 kills, three errors) and won the set, 25-13. It was the third instance of the Terriers beating an opponent by at least 10 points in a single set this season. Smotek had seven of her 18 kills during that span, giving her team some hope of potentially pulling off a reverse sweep.

That hope looked more and more like a reality at the start of the fourth set, when the Terriers jumped out to an 8-1 lead behind another two kills from Smotek and a service ace from Hoffman. Chiang later followed with two kills of her own to make it a 13-6 Hiram lead.

The Belles answered the call in the critical moments, going on a 19-4 run to reclaim control of the match and take home the tight win.

Hiram will now get set for another invitational next weekend, when it heads to Wilmington, OH for a pair of matches against Alma and Manchester on Saturday.