CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Mount St. Joseph University women's volleyball team opened postseason play in thrilling fashion on Wednesday night, defeating Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in four sets during the first round of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Tournament. The Lions battled back after dropping the opening set to secure a 3–1 victory and advance to the conference semifinals.
MATCH ONE: MSJ 3 – ROSE-HULMAN 1 (19-25, 25-22, 27-25, 25-19)
After a slow start in the first set, the Lions found their rhythm and responded with energy and precision. Mount St. Joseph edged out Rose-Hulman in a tight second set, then carried that momentum into an intense third, winning 27-25. The Lions sealed the match in the fourth with consistent offense and strong defense to complete the comeback.
Senior Hannah Graves led the charge with a standout performance, tallying 19 kills and 11 digs for another double-double effort. Sophomore Sydney Doty added 11 kills, while junior Emma Sicking contributed nine to round out a balanced offensive attack, just one kill short of her 1000th kill of her career at the Mount.
Sophomore Ginger Johnson directed the offense with a season-high 35 assists, showcasing excellent court awareness and play making ability. On the defensive side, Libero Lyndsey Stephenson anchored the back row with 16 digs, and junior Audrey Griffin added 10 to support the Lions' steady defensive presence.
Mount St. Joseph showed grit and determination throughout the match, never losing focus after the early setback. The win marks an impressive first-round performance as the Lions look to continue their postseason success.
UP NEXT: The Lions advance to the HCAC Semifinals, where they will face the second seeded Transylvania Pioneers. That match will take place at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana as the Quakers earned the #1 seed and the right to host the semifinals and finals.
