ALLIANCE, Ohio — Wabash rallied from a late deficit in the fifth set and erased match point, but Mount Union scored the final two points to hand the Little Giants a 3-2 Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League loss Saturday evening at the McPherson Academic and Athletic Complex.
 
Mount Union claimed the match by set scores of 26-24, 21-25, 25-21, 21-25, 17-15 in a tightly contested battle that featured 34 tie scores and 13 lead changes.
 
Wabash (4-5, 2-1 MCVL) received a match-high 22 kills from Shad Wilson, who hit .196 with 56 total attacks and added six digs . Bawibawi Thang contributed 16 kills and a team-high 57 receptions, while Jaden Greenwell added 13 kills and a .250 hitting percentage . Setter Matthew Stitle dished out 53 assists and helped direct a Wabash offense that finished with 61 kills and a .151 attack percentage.
 
Mount Union (7-11, 1-1 MCVL) countered with 19 kills from Michael Bowler and an 11-kill effort from Luke Pemberton. The Purple Raiders hit .188 for the match and held a slight edge at the net with 8 total team blocks to Wabash's 6.
 
The opening set created the tone for the night. Wabash and Mount Union traded points throughout, with 18 ties in the frame alone . Wilson recorded six kills in the set and sparked a late 3-0 push that included a service ace to give Wabash a 23-22 lead. Greenwell's kill evened the score at 24-24, but Mount Union capitalized on consecutive Wabash attack errors to secure the 26-24 decision.
 
Wabash responded in the second set behind improved defensive pressure and timely swings from Wilson and Wolverton. A mid-set stretch keyed by Wilson kills and Mount Union attack errors helped the Little Giants build a 14-10 advantage. Though the Purple Raiders trimmed the margin to two late, Stitle closed the set with a service ace to seal a 25-21 victory and even the match.
 
The third set featured a decisive Mount Union run. After Wabash pulled within 11-9, the Purple Raiders strung together a 6-0 surge fueled by Bowler's attacking and multiple Wabash errors to build a 17-11 lead. Thang delivered back-to-back service aces to narrow the deficit to 22-19, but Mount Union maintained control and closed out a 25-21 win.
 
Wabash answered emphatically in the fourth set with its most efficient offensive showing of the night. The Little Giants hit .378 in the frame, with Wilson recording eight kills and Greenwell adding four without an error. A late 5-1 run, highlighted by consecutive Wilson swings and a Thang service ace, pushed Wabash ahead 23-18. The Little Giants forced a deciding fifth set with a 25-21 victory.
 
In the final set, Mount Union jumped out to a 6-2 lead, capitalizing on Wabash attack miscues and a service ace. The Purple Raiders extended the advantage to 12-7 before Wabash mounted a rally. Thang delivered back-to-back service aces to tie the score at 14-14, erasing match point and shifting momentum briefly to the Little Giants. After the teams traded points to 15-15, Mount Union capitalized on consecutive Wabash attack errors to claim the 17-15 win and the match.
 
Wabash finished with 94 digs and 11 service aces but was hampered by 37 attack errors and a .045 hitting percentage in the decisive fifth set.
 
The Little Giants continue MCVL play Sunday with a road match at Baldwin Wallace University.