TIFFIN -- With the team and the fans dressed in black, the Heidelberg University Volleyball team stunned visiting No. 25 Ohio Northern, 3-2. Heidelberg won 25-23, 23-25, 20-25, 25-23, 15-12. A boisterous crowd inside Seiberling Gymnasium looked on as Heidelberg improved to 13-10 overall, 2-2 in the OAC. 

Right side hitter Riley Tople tallied a career high 16 kills. Outside Lexi Wachtman and Middle Anamya Truex also had strong showings with 13 apiece. Truex came in strong, attacking at a .323 clip. 

Playing a full rotation, setter Maddie Reed more than doubled her career high, with 45 assists. The 45 assists were the most by a 'Berg setter since Anna McNabb registered 55 in the final game of the 2018 season. 

Libero Nicole Thomas and Reed both registered 14 digs while Natalie Chiles added 12. Grace Dohanyos and Jeylo Rodriguez each notched 11. Truex had eight total blocks in the win. 

The Polar Bears opened up a sizable lead midway through the first set. Playing in front of their home crowd for the first time in October, Heidelberg roared back. A 6-0 run gave HU a 19-18 lead. Later, a kill by Truex and two from Wachtman pushed HU to 24 points. ONU crept to within one at 24-23, but a poor set by the Polar Bears clinched the win for HU. 

ONU (12-6, 2-2) built up several four-point cushions in the second set, but Heidelberg answered each time. Down 18-14, a 5-1 run put the Student Princes ahead by a point. From there, the teams danced back and forth, with HU taking a 23-22 lead on a Truex kill. ONU took the final three points of the set and evened the match. 

A 9-3 run midway through the third allowed the Polar Bears to amass a six-point lead, which they nursed the rest of the way. HU crept to within two at 21-19, but ONU answered with a set-closing 4-1 spurt. 

Down 8-7 in the fourth, the Tricolor used a 6-1 run to grab a 13-8 edge. ONU would close to within one on multiple occasions, but the hosts continually found an answer. Up 24-23, Tople closed the fourth with a kill. 

Heidelberg started the fifth with a heart-pounding 7-3 lead. A service ace by Thomas gave them their largest lead of the set at 10-5. The Polar Bears roared back within two but it wasn't enough as a Grace Porter kill closed out the victory. 

Heidelberg returns to action at Otterbein for a Saturday tri-match. Heidelberg will face the host Cardinals at 10 a.m. before battling Kenyon at noon.