LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Hanover Panthers (15-5 overall, 3-1 HCAC) battled the no. 16 ranked Transylvania Pioneers on Wednesday evening inside the Beck Center, dropping the heartbreaker in straight sets (22-25, 24-26, 19-25).
 
Set one revealed the tone of the match as neither team was willing to give an inch. The Panthers displayed early success with junior Maggie Schweitzer (Shelbyville, Ind.) propelling HC in front 3-1. But the Pioneers remained poise knotting the contest before using a five point rally for the 7-5 advantage. The Panthers continued to battle creating a run of their own that saw a sophomore Elliot Mays (Jeffersonville, Ind.) kill and a Transylvania hiccup knot the score 20-20. However, the Pioneers were able to combat and claim the set one win 25-22.
 
Much like the first set, the Panthers pounced to a slim 9-4 lead behind the service of freshman Megan Vogel (North Vernon, Ind.). But Transylvania slowly chipped at the difference before capturing the 11-10 advantage following a 7-0 run. With most of the momentum in their favor they were able to push the lead to as many as four points before freshman Abbey McCoy (Indianapolis, Ind.) landed back-to-back kills knotting the score, 24-24. The nationally ranked Pioneers refused to surrender scoring the next two points for the two set advantage.
 
The final set saw Transylvania capture the 11-6 difference when sophomore Maddie Robertson (Mitchell, Ind.) hit a stellar ball that halted the Pioneers. But Transylvania continued on the attack using a 4-0 rally en route to the 18-13 advantage. Schwarzkopf registered a service ace cutting the lead to 23-18 but Transylvania deemed too much claiming the match in straight sets.
 
Hanover returns to action on Friday, Oct. 20 at Bluffton. First serve is set for 7:00 PM.