The fourth-seed Muskingum volleyball team hosted fifth-seed Heidelberg in the opening round of the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament on Tuesday night in front of an electric and energetic crowd in the Anne C. Steele Center. After falling in the first two sets, the Muskies fought the Student Princes in set three, fighting a back-and-forth battle before falling in heartbreaking fashion in straight sets, 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 28-26).

The Basics

• Muskingum finished the regular season 20-6 overall.
• Heidelberg holds a 17-11 overall record.

Notables

• The game marked the final contest for Muskingum's seven seniors: Taylour Fatheree, Laura Hill, Mackenzie O'Shea, Chloe Brandewie, Rose LeVally, Shelbie Wiseman, and Courtney Nestoff.
• The last two times Muskingum won 20 plus matches in a season was in 2015 (21-10 overall, 6-3 OAC) and 2008 (23-7 overall, 6-3 OAC). 
• The Muskies are now 34-24 all-time against the Berg.
• As a team, Muskingum averaged 18.74 digs-per-game and 12.91 kills-per-set this season.

How It Happened

• Muskingum gave great effort in set one (25-20), trailed the entire second set (25-19), and tested Heidelberg in set three, but fell in heartbreaking fashion (28-26).
• Senior Taylour Fatheree paced the offense with 11 kills.
• Brooke Fatheree finished with a double-double on the night, 10 kills and 12 digs.
• Chloe Brandewie chipped in seven kills and a team-best four blocks.
• Courtney led the defense with 17 digs and created two service aces.
• Erin Dickson also finished with a double-double, tossing 26 assists and contributing 13 digs.
• Madison Sikorski added 12 digs  

Inside The Sets

• The Muskies fell behind early in the opening set before rallying to get within two, 11-9. After that, the Student Princes registered five straight points and to grab the momentum en route to taking the frame, 25-20.
• The second set started in similar fashion to the first set with Heidelberg taking control and Muskingum fighting its way back. However, the Student Princes never gave up the lead throughout the whole set, notching the second frame, 25-19.
• Muskingum grabbed the momentum early in set three with a 6-3 lead. The Student Princes fought back and tied the set at 10-10. The Muskies used a 7-4 spurt to break a 16-16 tie and take a 23-20 lead. Muskingum seemed poised to take the frame with three set-point opportunities, but Heidelberg fended off the Muskie charge and tallied the final two points of the match to win the final set, 28-26.