Ravens Volleyball came out on top in a five-set thriller at home Friday night.
The Ravens defeated the (RV) Park University Pirates, 3-2, coming back from a 2-1 deficit in the match to earn the win.
Park took an early 4-1 lead but the Ravens quickly answered to move in front 8-5 when the teams switched sides.
The Pirates went on a 5-1 run to move in front 10-9, but the Ravens fought back to win the set and the match, 15-13, with a Lucy Drexel kill.
The Ravens took a 1-0 lead in the match thanks to a strong closing run. The teams battled back and forth in the early part of the set, with the Pirates leading 15-14. That's when the Ravens took off, closing out the 25-20 set win with an 11-5 run.
The Ravens attack was much better than Park in the first set, as the home side had a .231 attack percentage compared to just .025 for the Pirates.
The Pirates answered with a 25-19 win in the second set. The attack percentages flipped from the first set, as it was Park hitting at .273 and the Ravens at .081. The Pirates grabbed an early lead in the set and never let the Ravens get closer than 2 points, leveling the match at 1-1.
The Pirates momentum carried into the third set as an 11-0 run helped propel Park to a 25-11 set win, and a 2-1 advantage in the match. The attack percentage heavily favored the Pirates, .556 to .057, in the third set.
After a poor third set, the Ravens responded with a thrilling win in the fourth set to tie the match, 2-2.
The Ravens gained an early lead and held it for most of the set before the Pirates were able to level the score at 24-24. It was a kill by Barbara Terra and an ace from Isabella Franco that gave the Ravens the 2 points they need to win the set, 27-25, sending it to a decisive fifth set with the Ravens coming out on top.
Barbara Terra led the Ravens with 18 kills, while Drexel added 16 and Bridget O'Sullivan had 10 kills. Kelly DeMeulenaere had 35 digs and 4 aces. JoJo Vander Woude and Rayleen Gladden each had 4 block assists and Wren VanCleave had 43 assists and 3 block assists.
The Ravens (3-6, 2-1 Heart) will remain home to take on Ottawa University at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13.