HIRAM, Ohio - September 19, 2026 - Hiram women's volleyball welcomed its first PAC opponent to Price Gymnasium Saturday afternoon, taking down Chatham University in three sets, 25-17, 25-18, 25-21.
Multiple student-athletes stepped up for the Terriers, including freshman Madelyn Petrulis, who led her team in kills with 11. Petrulis also posted a .618 hitting percentage, recording 18 total attacks with zero errors. Fellow freshman Jacey English also put together an impressive game, recording a career-high 25 digs along with six assists. Five different student-athletes recorded at least six kills in the match.
Hiram immediately jumped out to a 9-2 lead in the first set, as Sofia Smotek recorded three early kills to get her team going. Maggie Riley tallied five of her 10 kills in the first set. Towards the back end of the set, Megan Chiang knocked back-to-back aces to give Hiram an 18-12 lead. Chiang led the team with four service aces. English added a service ace of her own to help the Terriers build a comfortable lead and take the first set.
The second set played much closer, as neither team held more than a three-point lead. That trend was broken when Hiram held an 18-17 lead and proceeded to end the set on a 7-1 run. The run was led by Hiram's defense, which forced five straight Cougar attacking errors as the Terriers won the set, 25-18.
Neither team gained control in the third and final set. Chatham held onto a lead for a brief moment, but Hiram regained the lead at 10-9 and did not give it back, even as Chatham continued to threaten. Petrulis came alive in the set, earning six of her team-high 11 kills in the final frame. Freshman Rebecca Volpe also put together three powerful kills in the set.
Hiram returns to action Tuesday night as it travels to Alliance, Ohio, to take on the Mount Union Purple Raiders. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
