MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The University of Montevallo volleyball team stormed back after dropping the opening set and held on late in the fifth and final set in a thrilling 3-2 victory Oct. 31 over in-state Gulf South Conference rival University of West Alabama at Trustmark Arena.

Three of the frames couldn't be decided by the 25 point, including the final set as Montevallo secured the match with a 20-18 win in the frame. West Alabama won the opening set 27-25 before the Falcons responded with a 25-22 win in the second set and a 25-15 victory in the third set.

The Tigers tied the match at 2-2 with a 26-24 win in the fourth set before Montevallo claimed the fifth and final set 20-18 in thrilling fashion following a block by senior Kristy Bohan and freshman Amanda Nugent and back-to-back attacking errors by West Alabama, which fell to 16-12 overall and 8-4 in Gulf South Conference play.

Bohan registered a match-high 23 kills and eight blocks for the Falcons, who improved to 13-12 overall and 7-6 in Gulf South Conference play.

Sophomore Brioni Dixon added 17 kills, while freshman Evelina Teran contributed 16 kills.

Sophomore Michaela Henderson finished with a team-high 26 digs and freshman Amanda Nugent contributed 19 digs.

Senior Grace Harris, who surpassed 1,000 career digs in the match, finished with 17 digs.

Sophomore Harley Masoner led the Falcons with 41 assists, while freshman Liz Tisch contributed 24 assists.

Montevallo 3, West Alabama 2 (25-27, 25-22, 25-15, 24-26, 20-18)
October 31, 2017
Trustmark Arena (Montevallo, Alabama)

GAME NOTES

• Senior Kristy Bohan registered a match-high 23 kills and eight blocks in the victory.
• Sophomore Brioni Dixon added 17 kills, while freshman Evelina Teran contributed 16 kills. 
• Sophomore Michaela Henderson finished with a team-high 26 digs and freshman Amanda Nugent contributed 19 digs.
• Senior Grace Harris, who surpassed 1,000 career digs in the match, finished with 17 digs.
• Sophomore Harley Masoner led the Falcons with 41 assists, while freshman Liz Tisch contributed 24 assists.
• The Falcons hit .247 and recorded 78 kills compared to the Tigers' .148 hitting percentage and 56 kills in the  match.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• West Alabama broke open a tight first set with a 7-2 run midway through the frame on its way to a 27-25 win over the Falcons.
• Montevallo responded with a 25-22 win in the second set, overcoming a three-point deficit late in the frame with a 10-4 run to end the set after freshman Amanda Nugent, junior Brioni Dixon and sophomore Harley Masoner each provided a kill down the stretch.
• West Alabama raced out to a 6-1 lead in the third set before the Falcons stormed back in a dominant 25-15 win, ending the frame with a 11-0 run after senior Kristy Bohan contributed three kills down the stretch and the Tigers ended the set with back-to-back attacking errors.
• The Tigers managed to tie the match at 2-2 after racing out to a 10-2 advantage in a 26-24 win in the fourth set.
• The thrilling fifth set featured an early 8-5 lead for the Falcons following a service ace by junior Brie Blume before West Alabama used a 5-0 run of its own to take the lead. The Tigers couldn't close out the match with a 14-12 lead as Montevallo tied the frame with kills by Bohan and freshman Evelina Teran. West Alabama had two more chances to close out the set, but the Falcons staved off defeat and went on a 3-0 run to clinch a 20-18 win in the frame following a trio of attacking errors by the Tigers.

Montevallo (13-12 overall, 7-6 in Gulf South Conference) | West Alabama (16-12 overall, 8-4 in Gulf South Conference)