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Ohio Wesleyan 3, Hiram 2

Junior outside hitter Eliza Richardson (Lakewood) and sophomore outside hitter Melissa Murray (Chardon/Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin) powered the Ohio Wesleyan offense as the Bishops rallied to win the final 2 sets and take a North Coast Athletic Conference win over Hiram on Saturday in Hiram.

The Bishops won the match by scores of 23-25, 27-25, 14-25, 25-18, 15-11.

Ohio Wesleyan wiped out a 20-16 deficit in the first set with a 6-1 run that included 2 kills and a block from freshman outside hitter Natalie Buravlov (Aurora, Colo./Grandview) and a kill by Murray, and a kill from freshman middle blocker Claire Solberg (Huron) gave the Bishops a 23-22 lead, but Hiram scored the next 3 points to take the set, with Emily Richardson recording the final kill.

The Bishops broke a 15-15 tie in the second set with a 7-1 burst, getting 3 kills from Eliza Richardson and additional kills from Solberg and sophomore setter Abby Thierauf (Cincinnati/Milford), but Hiram came back to even the score at 24 before Murray delivered a pair of kills to help close out the set and even the match at a set apiece.  The Terriers used a 7-0 spurt to take the lead for good in the third set, then went on an 11-4 run to finish the set, with Mary Landis contributing 2 aces and Kiara Franks getting the final kill.

Ohio Wesleyan trailed, 7-6, in the fourth set after a kill by Alex Fisher, but the Bishops stormed back with a 10-1 run, highlighted by a pair of Eliza Richardson kills.  Eliza Richardson then recorded back-to-back kills and assisted Murray on a kill to help the Bishops extend the margin to 20-12, and Murray and Solberg came through with kills down the stretch as Ohio Wesleyan stayed alive and forced a fifth set.

In the deciding set, the Bishops turned a 5-2 deficit into an 8-5 lead as Murray had a pair of kills and Eliza Richardson and Solberg added kills.  Eliza Richardson added 2 more kills down the stretch, and Solberg slammed the door with a match-ending solo block.

Eliza Richardson led Ohio Wesleyan with 20 kills, Murray added 17, and Buravlov finished with 10.  Thierauf recorded 32 assists and freshman setter Olivia Osuna (Orlando, Fla./Phillips) finished with 25.  Solberg had a team-high 2 blocks and sophomore defensive specialist Neah White (Indianapolis, Ind./North Central) had a team-high 18 digs.

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