HIRAM, Ohio - September 10, 2025 – The Terriers kicked things off at home with an electric crowd against their previous conference rivals, Oberlin, beating the Yeowomen in three sets on Wednesday evening at Price Gymnasium: 25-22, 25-19, 26-24.

Sofia Smotek led the charge with 15 kills, while fellow first-year Megan Chiang added 12 kills. Kelly Hoffman, the reigning PAC Offensive Player of the Week, had 30 assists and first-year Maggie Riley recorded a team-high 11 digs to round out the biggest production in the home opener.

The first set featured back-and-forth action, with Hiram trailing by as many as three points before later claiming an 18-14 lead and eventual 25-22 win in the set. There were 13 lead changes in the set, with Smotek, fresh off her PAC Newcomer of the Week award, breaking things up with a clean kill assisted by Hoffman to give the Terriers enough momentum in the closing moments of the set. The Terriers won the final four points to take the early advantage.

The second set started out in a similar manner, although Hiram again found a way to the finish line. The Terriers won six straight points to take a 17-13 lead and eventually took seven of the last 11 points in the set, with Smotek racking up three kills in that span.

The final set saw the Terriers come through in the clutch, as the Terriers faced a pair of set points and a 24-22 deficit against a Yeowomen team that found its best form of the match. Hiram didn't back down, as it won each of the final four points to claim the victory. A service ace from Smotek and a kill from Chiang punctuated the effort, as the first-year duo sent a roaring crowd home happy.

The Terriers will continue play on Friday, when they take part in the Ginny Hunt Kilt Classic hosted by a former conference opponent in Wooster. Hiram will take the court at 5 p.m. for a match against Bluffton and then 7 p.m. for a match against Wooster.