BEL AIR, Md. - The Harford volleyball team (6-1, 4-0 MD JUCO) remained undefeated in conference play with a thrilling five-set victory over Frederick (4-7, 2-3 MD JUCO) on Wednesday. The Fighting Owls forced the decisive fifth set with a landslide victory in the fourth set, winning 25-20, 18-25, 24-26, 25-11, 15-8.

Trailing 23-18 in the third set, Harford mounted a ferocious comeback behind a pair of kills by sophomore Amanda Mackey. A service ace by freshman Lauren Cappellini knotted the score at 24-24, but that's as close as the Fighting Owls would get in that set, falling 26-24.

The momentum, however, was in Harford's favor, and it showed in the remainder of the match. The Fighting Owls blasted out of the gates and took a 16-3 lead in the fourth set and cruised from there to the victory. In the first three sets, Harford attacked at a dismal .022, but after mounting the comeback, the Fighting Owls attacked at .263 in the fourth set and .273 in the fifth set.

Rookie Brandi Smith set a career-high with 14 kills and recorded her first career double-double with 10 digs in the win. She attacked at a team-best .385. Mackey added nine kills in a rare off night for the all-conference performer. She came into the night with just seven attack errors in six matches, but committed six in the five-set win on Wednesday to finish with a .107 hitting clip on the night.

Tina Arzola dished out 27 assists and added seven service aces, while Maddie Hewitt chipped in with 16 digs. Cappellini and Marissa Curran each added five service aces.

The first-place Fighting Owls return to the court on Friday against Allegany (5-5, 4-1 MD JUCO) with a 7 p.m. start.