Haverford, Pa. – Bryn Mawr's volleyball squad played another dramatic five-set match earlier Wednesday evening. Unfortunately for the Owls, they ended up on the wrong side of the 3-2 scoreline, as Haverford battled back from a late deficit to protect their home court and steal the win. Rachel Ofili led the Owls with 23 kills on the evening in the losing effort, while Danielle Preziuso collected 40 assists. The Fords Keri Godbe led all players with 24 kills.

The Fords (17-8, 7-1 Cent.) managed to coast rather easily to a win in the opening set of the match, running out to a 9-2 lead early and closing with a three-point run to take the frame 25-15. However, that would be as comfortable as things would get for the hosts, as Bryn Mawr (10-13, 1-7 Cent.) immediately responded with a huge second set. After splitting the first eight points of the match, the Owls made a good run to take their first big lead of the night, and it was all due to three straight errors by the Fords. Haverford caught back up, however, and even though the Owls would continue to take two- or three-point leads, the Fords would continue to battle back and knot the set back up, all the way to 19-19. Finally, Bryn Mawr broke through with their biggest run to that point, taking six straight points to earn a 25-19 victory and even the match up. Sarah Gates got the run started with a kill, and then a Haverford attack error gave the Owls a two-point advantage. The Fords took a timeout to try and slow down the Bryn Mawr run, but it had no effect; the Owls won three more points, including another kill from Ofili, to make it set point. Once again, Haverford used their timeout, but the Owls could not be stopped. One more attack error by the hosts gave Bryn Mawr the set, and they were back in the match.

In the third set, the Owls found themselves trailing midway through by a 15-11 margin. However, the team once again buckled down to get back in the frame. After a Fords service error, Megan Kilmer spun a perfect serve for an ace to get a five point run going. Ofili would notch two more kills in that rally, but after a few more minutes of play the Owls once again trailed 19-18. It was no matter to the visitors, though; Bryn Mawr strung together another incredible run to turn that deficit into a five-point set three victory. Noemi Moreno and Avary Taylor tallied kills in a 7-1 run, and Taylor closed out the set with another strong spike to put the Owls ahead by 2-1 in the match.

It appeared as if Bryn Mawr might complete the comeback by taking the fourth set as well, as the team ran out to an early 6-4 lead in the frame. However, Haverford promptly recovered their senses, using a four-point run of their own to regain control of the set. The Owls used a four-point run of their own to take back the lead at 13-12, thanks to two attack errors by the Fords and two more kills from Ofili. Unfortunately, that would be the best Bryn Mawr could do in the frame, as Haverford ultimately used an 8-3 run to the finish to clinch a 25-20 set win of their own and force a decisive fifth frame.

Once again the Owls ran out to a quick lead, as Ofili opened things with a kill and Gates notched a service ace of her own. After the Fords tied the set back up at two, an attack error put Bryn Mawr ahead 3-2. However, that was the final lead the Owls would hold in the set. Haverford won five of the next six points and five of the final six points as well to take the final frame in 15-8 fashion and claim the match victory.

The Owls now return to Bryn Mawr to play their final three contests of the season in the friendly confines of the Class of 1958 Gymnasium. First up for Bryn Mawr will be a Saturday tilt against Johns Hopkins University. Be sure to come out and support your Owls in their final homestand of the season, starting this Saturday at 1:00 PM!