CLEVELAND – The Case Western Reserve University volleyball team rallied to force a fifth set, but Hiram College came out on top by a score of 3-2 on Wednesday evening at Horsburgh Gymnasium. The Terriers won via counts of 25-21, 20-25, 25-21, 16-25 and 15-11.

The Spartans drop to 18-9 overall and will continue a stretch of five home matches in 11 days with a Seniors' Day tri-match this Saturday, October 20. With the win, Hiram improves to 21-5.

The first set was tightly contested as neither side built a lead larger than two until the Terriers broke a 21-21 tie with four-straight points. The Spartans fell behind by three on two occasions in the second set but answered with a late flurry that included the final six points.

In the third, Hiram maintained an early lead and pulled away a 5-1 run after the set was tied at 20. The fourth was all Case Western Reserve as the Spartans keyed the set with an 8-2 run midway through that made the score 13-7. However, with the deciding set knotted at 7-7, Hiram put the match away via a 5-1 run en route to the 15-11 final.

Offensively, freshman outside hitter Carolyn Bogart (New Berlin, Wis./New Berlin Eisenhower) led all hitters with 21 kills. Sophomore outside hitter Ella Mravec (Lakewood, Ohio/Lakewood) added 11 kills without committing an error in 27 attempts for a .407 hitting percentage. Senior setter Breana Freeman (Geneva, Ohio/Geneva) paced the attack with a season-high 51 assists and contributed 16 digs for her 11th double-double of the season.

Defensively, Case senior libero Rachel Gulasey (Cleveland, Ohio/Magnificat) posted a team-high 29 digs, while Mravec recorded career highs of four block solos and five assists.

Hiram was led by Jennifer Yardas with 13 kills, Tierra Moore with 46 assists and Ariel Pund with 16 digs.

This Saturday's tri-match begins at 12:00 p.m. versus Defiance College. The Spartans also play Muskingum University at 4:00 p.m. Prior to the noon start, the program honors its six senior student-athletes.