ALLIANCE, Ohio – The Heidelberg University Volleyball team fell to Mount Union on Saturday, 3-1. The Student Princes fell to 12-10 (1-2 OAC) while the Purple Raiders improved to 14-4 (2-1 OAC). 

Mount Union took the first two sets 25-11 and 25-10. Heidelberg bounced back in set three taking a nailbiter, 25-23. Eight Purple Raider kills in the fourth set helped the home squad seal the match, 25-13. 

After being outmatched in the first two sets, the visitors found themselves in a 5-0 hole to begin set three. The Berg would cut into the deficit following a Lexi Evak kill to make it 10-7. 

After making it 16-12, Mount Union would score the next three points to stretch their lead to 19-12. With the match slipping out of sight, HU would not back down. The visitors rattled off the next seven points. Five attack errors by the home team and two kills from Reagan Ritzhaupt and Riley Tople, helped HU tie it up 19-19. 

The Purple Raiders were not phased and took the next three points to take the lead back. With the score set at 23-20, Mount Union was looking for the clean sweep. Heidelberg had other plans and took the last five points thanks to a few Purple Raider errors, forcing  a fourth set.

Although a valiant effort from Heidelberg, the home team controlled the fourth set resulting in the 3-1 loss for the Berg. 

Evak led all HU attackers with seven kills in the loss. Anamya Truex and Grace Porter each tallied five of their own.

Maddie Reed led the setters with 11 assists on the afternoon. Gabby Cumbo added nine while Bridgette Burrus totaled five.

On defense, senior libero Nicole Thomas added 14 digs, while Kaitlyn Uffman and Grace Dohanyos added 11 and 10 respectively. Truex and Tople had five blocks while Evak tallied four.

Heidelberg will be back in action on Wednesday as they host Ohio Northern in Seiberling Gymnasium. The match is set for 7 p.m.