LINCOLN, Neb. – A classic conference five set battle took place on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 12) at Snyder Arena but it was the road team Loras College that prevailed in the end over Nebraska Wesleyan 3-2.
 
The Duhawks won the five-set thriller in scores of 22-25, 25-23, 14-25, 25-20, 15-8 to remain unbeaten in American Rivers Conference volleyball action at 4-0 and 17-5 overall.  NWU has now dropped three straight matches to fall to 10-7, 2-3 in league play.
 
NWU won the opening set and held a 2-1 advantage after rolling in the third set.  Loras was able to gain all the momentum in set four and they rolled in the 5^th and deciding set.
 
In that deciding fifth set, the Duhawks got ahead 2-1 and they never trailed again.  Loras finished with 11 kills in the fifth set, while NWU managed only three which was the big difference in the match.
 
Set three was the most impressive for the Prairie Wolves when they hit .414 as a team with 15 total kills compared to only nine kills by the Duhawks.  They couldn't keep up that trend in the fourth and fifth sets. 
 
The Prairie Wolves had their chance to close things out earlier, but Loras jumped ahead 3-0 then later 7-2 in the 4^th set to take away the home team's momentum.  NWU pulled within one point at 14-13, then again at 17-16 and 18-17 but then never could tie up the set. 
 
Loras used a balanced offensive attack piling up 67 kills and a .179 hitting percentage.  Four Duhawks reached double figures in kills led by Jackie Alberto with 16.
 
Nebraska Wesleyan had two players in double figures in kills, led by freshman Whitney Jensen with 17.  Jensen was impressive posting a double-double adding 12 digs to her 17 kills and .317 hitting percentage.  Hannah Bellinghausen added 12 kills hitting .086.
 
Cora Svoboda and Nicole Gonzales both had nine kills in the match.  Anna Gottsch also had a double-double with 32 assists and 12 digs when she took over for starting setter Cassidy Plooster who left with injury.  Kelsie Stovall led the way with 28 digs.
 
NWU steps out of conference next weekend traveling to Naperville, Illinois for the North Central Invitational.