Thiel 3, Franciscan 1

Franciscan Starters 
Renee Antonelli, Emily Nutter, Caitlin O'Malley, Lucy Pridemore, Maria Bosco, Emma McDonald & libero - Sara Moore  

Thiel Starters 
Torres, Aulet, Stamp, Liedlke, Eaton, Gregory & libero - Triskett

How It Happened 
The Lady Barons came out strong by winning the first set at Thiel. Unfortunately they could not win another set, as they lost in four sets.

After Thiel coming out to a 4-2 lead, Franciscan would get a rhythm going with Meghan Hickey serving. The Lady Barons would rally four straight points, including a kill from Brynn Jacobson to take a 6-4 edge. The Tomcats would be able to fight back and tie it up at 7-7. Then seniors, Emily Nutter and Renee Antonelli added their first kills of the night to give Franciscan another lead. No one seemed to want to win this set, as action went back and forth all the way till it was 21-21. Franciscan would end the set on a 4-1 run, thanks to kills from Maria Bosco and Lucy Pridemore. 

Franciscan jumped out to a controlling 4-1 lead to start set two. The Tomcats would respond with a big run of their own to take a lead at 8-5. Thiel would continue to control this set, as they stretched their lead up to six at 17-11. Franciscan would not quit, as they fought it back to within two points at 20-18. Thiel would respond with two kills and two access in  a 5-0 run to win the set.

Thiel came out strong in set three, but thankfully Brynn Jacobson added a pair of kills to keep it close at 7-5. The Tomcats stretched their lead up to 10-5. A small Franciscan 3-0 run with a Renee Antonelli kill and Sara Moore pulled the game to within two. The Tomcats would respond though, as a big run stretched their back up to six at 17-11. Unfortunately that would be as close as Franciscan would get to the lead the rest of the set, as Thiel won 25-17.

Maria Bosco added an early kill, and Emily Nutter added an ace in a back and forth start to set four. Brynn Jacobson continued her strong day with two more kills to help Franciscan take the lead at 8-5. The Lady Barons would stretch their lead up to four points at 11-7, but the Tomcats would continue to battle. They would be able to tie it up at 15-15. Franciscan held a 21-19 lead, but the Tomcats were able to tie it back up at 23-23. Renee Antonelli added a kill to put Franciscan one point away from heading to a fifth set. The Tomcats would then go on a 3-0 run to win 26-24.

Inside the Numbers 
- Brynn Jacobson led all players with 17 kills, a career high.
- Sara Moore led all players with 22 digs.
- Maria Bosco had a team high .316 kill percentage on the night.
- Emily Nutter had 33 assists for her sixth straight game with 30+ assists.
- Thiel had more blocks and aces than Franciscan on the night. 

Who's Next? 
Franciscan will return home to take on Grove City next Tuesday at 7 pm. The Lady Barons fell 3-1 to the Wolverines earlier this season at Grove City with nearly every match going to extra points (24-26, 25-27, 29-27 20-25). Renee Antonelli set a program record with 21 kills in a four set match. Four Wolverines had double digit kills, so it will be a test to see if Franciscan can take away some of the Wolverines offensive talent in attempts to win the revenge match. 

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