Hiram College

HIRAM, Ohio – October 7, 2026 – Hiram College women's volleyball dropped a close four-set match to Thiel College on Wednesday night inside Beeghly Gymnasium, falling 18-25, 19-25, 25-23, 23-25. 

Thiel took the opening point of the first set and never trailed. Sofia Smotek came out strong for the Terriers with six kills and six digs, while also adding a block assist. A kill by Smotek cut the Thiel lead to 18-15, but a few Hiram offensive errors helped the Tomcats close out the set. 

Thiel again jumped out to an early lead in the second set, but Hiram stayed close at 12-11. The Tomcats then put together five straight points to take a 17-11 lead and eventually went up 2-0. 

With the match on the line, Hiram responded in the third set. Maggie Riley and Megan Chiang led the offense, with Riley putting together nine kills in the set alone. After Thiel held a 13-12 lead, Riley and Chiang accounted for every Hiram kill the rest of the way as the Terriers fought back to win the set 25-23. 

The fourth set was another close battle. Hiram held a 15-14 lead before Thiel responded with four straight points to take an 18-14 advantage. The Terriers battled back, with kills from Smotek and Riley helping tie the set at 22-22. Smotek added another kill to tie it again at 23-23, but Thiel scored the final two points to take the set and the match. 

Riley led the Terriers with a game-high and season-high 15 kills. Smotek finished with 13 kills and 25 digs, while Chiang added 11 assists and 12 digs as both recorded double-doubles. Courtney Johnson helped run the Hiram offense with 27 assists. 

Hiram will look to bounce back Saturday when it travels to Saint Vincent College to take on the Bearcats at 5 p.m.