CLINTON, S.C. – The Presbyterian College volleyball team (8-17, 4-8) saw victory in a hard-fought five-set showdown against the Radford Highlanders (8-15, 5-7), claiming a 3-2 win (20-25, 25-23, 17-25, 25-22, 15-11).
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
The match started off evenly, with both teams battling to a 5-5 tie. Presbyterian's early points came from kills by Ashley Miller, Courtney Williams, Elyse Hutchinson, and Julia Yurkovich. A kill from Anna Baranski, followed by a service ace from Courtney Aulbaugh, led the Blue Hose on a four-point streak that pushed them to a 9-5 lead and prompted a Highlander timeout.
 
Radford responded with a four-point run to tie the score at 9-9, only to be halted by a service error. The Highlanders then took control with five unanswered points, extending their lead to 14-10. After a Presby timeout, Radford continued their run, adding five more points despite a well-timed kill from Miller, which left the Blue Hose trailing 19-11.
 
Following a PC timeout, Miller stepped up to the service line, delivering a pair of aces and a powerful kill that helped PC close the gap to 19-16. Radford called a timeout, but the Blue Hose kept the momentum going as Hutchinson, Williams, and Yurkovich teamed up for a strong triple-block to make it a two-point game. The Highlanders took the next two points, but a solid Miller kill kept PC within striking distance at 21-18. Despite a well-placed kill from Yurkovich, Radford ultimately closed out the set at 25-20.
 
Second Set
The Blue Hose started the second set strong with a kill from Miller and a block by Brittney Daphnis and Yurkovich. Although Yurkovich added another kill, Radford soon evened the score at 3-3. The Highlanders briefly took a one-point lead, but Miller tied it back up with a powerful kill up the middle. Shortly after, Hutchinson and Baranski teamed up for a block, followed by a Hutchinson kill that added to PC's lead.
 
After Radford scored a point, Presbyterian pulled ahead to an 11-6 advantage, highlighted by a kill from Baranski. The Highlanders called a timeout, but PC kept up the pressure as Daphnis and Baranski took another strong attack and Miller added a kill. Radford responded with a kill of their own, but Miller immediately countered, while Daphnis and Williams joined forces for a block. Presbyterian continued to build momentum, reaching an 18-8 lead before Radford used their final timeout of the set.
 
After the break, Miller notched her third service ace of the day, yet Radford responded with a four-point run, closing the gap to 19-13. The Blue Hose hit the 20-point mark, but Radford stayed aggressive, winning three of the next four points. A pair of Radford errors brought the score to 23-16, however the Highlanders fought back with three more points. Following a PC timeout, Radford scored four of the next five points, tightening the score to 24-23.
 
With the set on the line, Miller and Daphnis stepped up, delivering a powerful block to stop Radford's attack and secure the set for Presbyterian, 25-23.
 
Third Set
The third set began with a close exchange, as kills from Daphnis, Miller, and Williams quickly brought the teams to a 3-3 tie. Yurkovich then gave Presbyterian the lead with a powerful kill, but Radford responded with a seven-point run to take a 10-4 advantage. Presbyterian called a timeout to regroup, and after the break, Baranski and Miller notched kills, while Courtney Aulbaugh delivered a service ace to narrow the gap to 10-7.
 
Radford quickly regained momentum, taking six of the next seven points and prompting Presbyterian to use their final timeout of the set while down 16-8. Following the timeout, a back-and-forth battle saw the score reach 19-10 before Presbyterian managed a three-point run, led by a Williams kill and a block by Hutchinson and Yurkovich.
 
As the teams traded points, the score settled at 21-14. Presbyterian took two consecutive points on kills by Hutchinson and Baranski, briefly tightening the gap. Despite a late kill from Miller, the Highlanders held their lead and closed the set at 25-17.
 
Fourth Set
The fourth set began as a back-and-forth contest led to a 6-6 tie. Miller contributed a strong kill early, helping Presbyterian stay even. The close battle continued with Baranski and Williams adding kills to bring the set to 8-8. Miller then landed a service ace, pushing the Blue Hose ahead, but Radford quickly regained the lead at 10-9.
 
Presbyterian responded with a surge, as kills from Daphnis and Williams, along with a block by Hutchinson and Williams, put the Blue Hose up 12-10. Shortly after, a three-point streak led by kills from Yurkovich and Hutchinson sent the teams into a media timeout, with PC holding a 15-11 advantage.
 
After the break, Radford captured three of the next four points, but Baranski's kill and a service ace from Hart kept Presbyterian in control with an 18-14 lead. The Highlanders rallied with two quick points, trimming the Blue Hose's edge to just two. A kill by Hart and a block from Williams and Daphnis forced Radford to call a timeout at 20-16.
 
Coming out of the timeout, Radford scored first, but PC countered with kills from Miller and Williams. Radford added two more points, bringing the score to 22-19, with Presbyterian still holding a slight advantage. Following a Blue Hose timeout, the teams traded points, putting Presbyterian at set point with a 24-21 lead. After a final Radford timeout, the Highlanders added one last point, but a decisive kill from Hutchinson secured the set for PC at 25-22.
 
Fifth Set
Miller opened the fifth set with a pair of powerful kills, giving Presbyterian an early lead. Radford responded with a kill, but the next three points went to the Blue Hose, with kills from Daphnis and Miller, establishing a 5-1 advantage. After a Highlander timeout, Hutchinson and Williams combined for a block before Radford took another kill. Another block by Hutchinson and Williams sparked a 3-1 run for PC, prompting a side switch at 8-3.
 
Following the switch, the Blue Hose took the first point, but Radford answered with five consecutive points, tightening the score to 9-8. Baranski's pair of kills led PC on a three-point surge, which forced Radford to call their final timeout with the Blue Hose ahead at 12-8.
 
The Highlanders took the first point after the break, but Miller's kill brought PC to set point at 14-9. Despite Radford adding two late points, Williams closed out the match with a powerful kill, sealing an exhilarating 15-11 fifth set victory for Presbyterian.
 


NOTABLES
- Miller tied her career-high of 18 kills while breaking her all-time best with 14 digs and four service aces.
- Baranski totaled 31 assists, nine kills, and nine digs.
- Hoyos finished with 26 digs.
 
UP NEXT
The Blue Hose are back in action tomorrow with a 4:00 p.m. first serve in Templeton against the High Point Panthers.