However, Swanson, who began the season as the NAIA’s all-time wins leader and now has a record of 815-297 overall in 25 seasons (15-15 at Waynesburg College in 1983 and 800-282 with the Lady Cougars since 1984), was more impressed with the atmosphere surrounding the match and his team’s play than reaching another milestone.

“The crowd was awesome tonight and it really added to an already great match between two good teams,” said Swanson. “We played really well in the first two games and built enough of a cushion to pull out two close wins in the first two games. In the third game, (Capital) showed why they deserved to be ranked and we were just not as consistent. Then, in the fourth game, we battled back and then pulled away late for the win. Everything about tonight’s match was exciting and fun to be a part of.”

In the first game, MVNU (5-0) jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead and then extended it to 14-7 as senior middle hitter Shena Beheler smashed four kills during the surge. After the visiting Lady Crusaders (2-3), who are ranked 16th in the NCAA Division III preseason poll, closed to within 28-27, a kill each by sophomore outside hitter Courtney Springer and junior outside hitter Audrey Hickinbotham (left) sandwiched around a sideout by Capital gave the Lady Cougars a 30-28 victory.

MVNU took a quick 3-0 lead to start the second game only to watch as the Lady Crusaders rallied for a 6-5 advantage of their own. The game went back and forth with Capital still clinging to a 27-26 lead when a kill by freshman middle hitter Jackie Albrecht, a block by Hickinbotham and Albrecht, and a kill by Hickinbotham gave the Lady Cougars a dramatic 30-27 win.

Trailing 2-0 in games, the Lady Crusaders did not give in, though. They quickly jumped out to a 13-6 lead as they never trailed in the third game. MVNU closed the gap to 14-11 on a kill by Beheler, but Capital ran off 16 of the final 22 points to pull away for the 30-17 victory to force a fourth game.

Things started to get interesting in the fourth game when the Lady Crusaders moved in front 5-1 early on and then 9-5. A pair of kills each by Albrecht and Hickinbotham helped the Lady Cougars take an 11-10 lead, but Capital bounced back to go in front 18-16. At that point, Springer pounded two kills and sophomore middle hitter Stephanie Zollars added a kill to give MVNU a 19-18 advantage.

With the score knotted at 20-20, the Lady Cougars ran off four straight points fueled by a kill from Hickinbotham and a block by Beheler and sophomore setter Kaylin Austen (right). Following a sideout by the Lady Crusaders, Hickinbotham served MVNU to a 27-21 advantage and the Lady Cougars traded points the rest of the way for a 30-24 victory to take the match.

Beheler led MVNU with 21 kills, nine digs, and seven blocks, while Austen handed out a career-high 48 assists to go with three kills, two blocks, and nine digs. Hickinbotham smashed 11 kills, and Springer finished with 10 kills, 12 digs, and four blocks. Zollars contributed nine kills, while Albrecht tallied four kills and seven blocks. Senior libero Tiffany Milburn also posted 18 digs.

The Lady Cougars, who received votes in the NAIA preseason poll, will return to action on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. with a match against Ursuline College and then a 1:30 p.m. match against Indiana University-Southeast as part of a tri-match in the Physical Education Center.