The Case Western Reserve University women's volleyball team fell just short in a thrilling five-set match at The MAAC on Wednesday night, dropping a 3-2 (18-25, 21-25, 25-19, 25-15, 9-15) decision to the University of Mount Union.

It was the first loss of the season for the Spartans, who dropped to 8-1 overall on the season. The Purple Raiders improved to 6-2 on the year with the win.

CWRU sophomore setter Shannon Carroll tallied 35 assists during the match and added 18 digs. Senior Marian Barton, freshman Haley Sims and freshman Brianna Lemon tied for the team lead with 12 kills during the match, while sophomore libero Karina Bondelid finished the match with 19 digs.

The Spartans dropped the first two sets, and fell behind 8-5 in the third, before rallying to score 15 of the next 25 points and regain control of the game, en route to a 25-18 victory.

In the fourth, CWRU hit the ignition with a service ace by Sims to give the Spartans a 4-1 lead. The Purple Raiders came back and tied the set at 10-10, but CWRU answered with a kill from Barton. The Spartans would end the fourth 25-15 after a Purple Raider attack error.

CWRU led 7-5 in the fifth set after a kill from Lemon, but Mount Union would gain momentum scoring 10 of the last 12 points to earn a win in the final set, clinching the match victory.

The Spartans will be back in action at the Bishop Invitational hosted by Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio on Friday and Saturday. CWRU will open play against Adrian College at 3:00 p.m. on Friday.