Cedar Rapids, Iowa -- The Harford women's volleyball historical season came to an end yesterday with a 3-2 loss to Mott Community College in a Consolation Bracket game at the NJCAA Women's Volleyball Division II Championships.

This season was just the second time in program history (2023) that Harford made the national tournament. On Tuesday, the Fighting Owls recorded their first ever victory at nationals, taking down Milwaukee Area Tech in straight sets. 

On Thursday, the Fighting Owls (23-2) forced a fifth and deciding set on court one of Alliant Energy PowerHouse after staving off elimination with a 28-26 win in the fourth set to tie the match. 

Harford started the match strong, winning the first set 25-23.

Laura Piva (Trecate, Novara, Italy) had five of her team-leading 20 kills in the first and Karen Jimenez (Mexico City, Mexico) and Morgan Barnett (Spring Hill, Fla.) added three kills apiece. Clara Pauni (West Jordan, Utah) had six digs and would finish with a game-high 27. 

Mott (28-7) would take the next two sets, the third set in a dominating 25-8 fashion.

However, the Fighting Owls stormed back in the fourth set to extend the match. 

Down 6-2 early in the fourth, Harford went on a 7-0 run to jump ahead 9-6. Neither team went on significant run the rest of the frame. 

Harford fought off two match points before ending the set on a 3-0 run and send it to the fifth. 

The final set was back and fourth and Harford led 8-7 midway through. 

The Bears came out of the court switch and went on a 5-0 run to go up 12-8. 

Harford used a 3-0 run of its own to pull within one at 14-13, but Mott picked up the side-out and match on the next point.