CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Mount St. Joseph University women's volleyball team battled through five sets against Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) unbeaten Earlham College on Saturday evening inside the Harrington Center, but ultimately fell to the Quakers 3-2. With the loss, the Lions moved to 12-8 overall and 3-2 in HCAC play.
The opening set was a tightly contested battle, but Earlham managed to gain the upper hand and take the set 25-21. The Lions struggled to find their offensive rhythm early, recording just eight kills in the opening frame.
The Mount responded in a big way in the second set, putting together its most efficient offensive performance of the evening. The Lions registered 16 kills against just three errors, hitting an outstanding .419 as a team. That offensive surge helped MSJ secure a 25-18 victory and even the match at one set apiece.
Earlham regained control in the third set, using a strong offensive performance to take a 25-16 victory. The Quakers recorded 14 kills while hitting .275, putting the Lions in a 2-1 hole heading into the fourth set.
With their backs against the wall, the Lions responded once again in the fourth. The Mount registered 15 kills in the frame, hitting .234 while limiting its attacking errors to just four. That effort helped MSJ secure a 25-20 victory, forcing a decisive fifth set.
In the final frame, both offenses struggled to find consistency, but Earlham managed to make the plays necessary down the stretch. The Quakers held on for a 15-11 victory to secure the five-set win and remain unbeaten in HCAC play.
Offensively, the Lions were led by Sydney Doty and Etellina Jackson, who each finished with 11 kills. Mary Kolozsy added 10 kills, while Grace Crider contributed nine on an efficient .276 hitting percentage. Ginger Johnson directed the Mount's offense with a team-high 23 assists, while Ava Moore and Elysah Williams each chipped in 10.
Defensively, Lyndsey Stephenson led the Lions with 17 digs, while Johnson added 10 to complete a double-double. At the net, the Mount finished with eight team blocks, led by three block assists apiece from Doty and Jackson.
Despite the loss, the Lions showed resilience throughout the evening, twice battling back from a one-set deficit to extend the match to five sets.
