MARIETTA, Ohio – The Heidelberg University volleyball team evened its conference record with a thrilling five-set victory at Marietta College on Friday evening -- 23-25, 26-24, 25-23, 21-25, 15-7.

Stephanie Romie propelled the Heidelberg offense with a triple-double, finishing with 48 assists, 12 kills and 19 digs. Sarah Parker notched a game-high 19 kills and Jamie Kluding added 10 kills. Mariah Sullivan had eight kills and a team-high three aces.

The first set started in Marietta's favor, with the hosts taking a 7-4 lead. A kill by Stephanie Romie and two Pioneer attack errors knotted the game. From there, the teams battled back and forth until the score was tied at 19. Rachel Stroski's kill and three Pio errors gave The Berg a 23-19 advantage. Marietta, though, would rattle off six straight points to take the set.

Heidelberg (8-10, 1-1 OAC) broke out to a 5-0 lead in the second set, but again the pesky Pioneers worked their way back. With the Student Princes holding a 20-17 lead, Marietta scored six of the next seven points. Seemingly on the ropes, Heidelberg powered its way back with kills from Jamie Kluding and Sarah Parker sandwiched around an ace from Megan Flaherty. Pioneer Erica Denallo staved off set point with a kill to tie the match at 24. Heidelberg, though, took the next two points to tie the match at one.

The third set, a 25-23 win for Heidelberg, followed the same script of the first two -- a close set throughout, with mini-runs for each team. The Student Princes edged out the Pioneers with a late run.

In the fourth set, a Marietta (4-11, 0-1 OAC) attack error gave HU a 12-11 lead. The Pioneers embarked on a 6-0 run to take control of the set and led the rest of the way to force a decisive fifth set.

The Student Princes sprinted out to a 9-3 lead in the fifth. Heidelberg cruised to victory, capped off by Romie's 12th kill of the evening.

Jubilee Haase paced the Berg's defensive effort with 40 digs. Grace Samenuk added 17 digs in the win.

Heidelberg will stay in Marietta on Saturday, taking part in the River City Volleyball Classic. The Student Princes face Bethany College at noon and Kenyon College at 2:15 p.m.