Box Score Persistence paid off for the Hamline volleyball team Saturday. The Pipers shook off a first set loss to win three straight -- including the last one in dramatic fashion -- for a 3-1 win over the Wildcats Saturday at Butler Center.  Cass Bittle had a big game, recording 17 kills and finishing with an impressive .350 hitting percentage. Reilly Geistfeld continued her second half surge with 11. Megan Rubbelke took over main setting duties and responded admirably with a career high 36 assists. The back line play was also impressive. HU had five players in double figures and finished with a total of 89 digs. Megan Anderson led with 17 with Cassie Doerr and Marisa Franco close behind with 15. Sammie Coffler had 13 and Rubbelke added a dozen. 

After dropping a 25-18 decision in the opening set, the Pipers rallied from a 15-12 deficit for a 25-21 second set triumph. Hamline rode the momentum of that win to jump to a 7-1 third set lead and sailed to a 25-17 win. The fourth set went back and forth. HU inched ahead 19-18 only to see SCU regain the edge and push the advantage to 24-21. Facing a fifth set squarely, Hamline snapped back with five straight points for a 26-24 victory to move the needle to 4-23 overall and earn their first MIAC win of the year. 

The season wraps up next week with three matches at Hutton Arena. St. Thomas is here on Wednesday, October 25 for a 7:00 p.m. affair. On Saturday, October 28, HU will hosts Macalester (1:00 p.m.) and Wis-Superior (3:00 p.m.) in the season finale.