RICHMOND -- The Earlham College volleyball team scored a straight-set win over Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology on Wednesday evening in Druley Performance Gym. 

The Quakers improved to 18-5 (7-1 HCAC) while the Engineers fell to 11-15 (2-6 HCAC).

Maria Young and Olivia Kyrk led the Earlham offense with 11 kills each, sporting a .409 and .500 hit percentage respectively. 

Erin Wagner put up 37 assists as the main setter for Earlham. Wagner and Richmond native Sarah Dickman added three aces each to the offensive efforts. 

Earlham took the lead early on in the first set with a 4-point run. The Quakers continued to pile pressure on the visiting squad as the set progressed and scored a 6-0 run to reach set point. Dickman recorded all three of her aces in this run which was also aided by kills from Giselle Mora. Earlham was stuck on set point and gave up four points to the Engineers before a kill on a fake set from Wagner ended the frame.

The Quakers picked up right where they left off in set two and jumped out to an early lead of 7-2. Earlham continued to steadily increase its lead as the set progressed. Trailing 17-9, Rose-Hulman managed a 6-1 run to edge closer into contention, but Earlham remained calm and collected for the final rallies to take the second set. 

Earlham once again jumped out ahead in the beginning of set three and maintained around a four-point lead over the Engineers throughout the early part of the set. The Quakers scored a 5-1 run with kills from Kyrk and Mora to end off the set and take the win.

The win brings Earlham closer to a potential conference championship. The Quakers will host Bluffton University on Saturday for senior day and the final game of the regular season. Earlham is currently tied with Mount St. Joseph atop the HCAC standings and with a head-to-head win over the Lions on homecoming, the Quakers have the advantage if there is a tie. Earlham can clinch a regular season HCAC championship and host the conference tournament with a win against the Beavers this weekend.