TIFFIN -- The Heidelberg University Volleyball team lost two times in a home Saturday tri-match. HU couldn't close out Marietta, losing 3-2, in the opener, then lost to Alma, 3-0.  

Heidelberg dropped to .500 at 14-14 overall, and slipped to 2-5 in the OAC.  

MARIETTA 3   HEIDELBERG 2   (26-28, 17-25, 25-17, 25-15, 15-8)

The Pioneers led 21-15 in the opening set before HU roared back with a set-tying 7-1 run that included five 'Berg kills and two blocks.  HU was the first to 24, but Marietta staved off two set points in quick succession. The Pios led 26-25 before HU rattled off three kills in a row -- one by Lexi Evak sandwiched between Riley Tople kills.  

Heidelberg methodically built a lead and extended their cushion in the second set, holding Marietta to a .148 attack percentage in the romp.  

Marietta flipped the script in the third, regaining the momentum.  In the fourth, Heidelberg seemed deflated as the Pioneers amassed a gigantic lead.  

Heidelberg was unable to regain their swagger from the later part of the first set and the second set as Marietta completed the comeback.  

ALMA 3   HEIDELBERG 0   (25-20, 29-27, 27-25)

Heidelberg played catch-up for the entire first set. Each time HU got within a point, the Scots surged back ahead.  Anamya Truex picked up a kill that brought the Tricolor to within one at 20-19, but the visitors closed on a 5-1 run.  

With the lone exception of Heidelberg's brief 21-18 lead, teams remained within two points of each other throughout the entire second set.  Each team had multiple opportunities to win the set, but Alma managed to string two kills together to seal it.  

Down early, Heidelberg responded midway through the third set and led 11-10.  The lead see-sawed until a mini-run, capped by a Maddie Reed ace, put HU up 22-19.  As they have all season long, the Student Princes found the final handful of points difficult to win.  On their third crack at match point, the Scots finally succeeded.  

KEY STATS

Offensively, Anamya Truex had 27 kills and hit .375 … Riley Tople racked up 21 kills and Lexi Evak added 19.

Maddie Reed notched 53 assists.

Defensively, libero Nicole Thomas had 40 digs … Truex had 11 blocks

UP NEXT

With two games to go in the conference slate, Heidelberg travels to Capital on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. match in Bexley.