JAMESTOWN, N.D. -- The 18th-ranked Bellevue University volleyball team let a 14-11 fifth-set lead slip away as 22nd-ranked University of Jamestown pulled out a dramatic 3-2 (26-28, 25-23, 12-25, 25-18, 16-14) win over the Bruins in North Star Athletic Association action Friday night at the Hansen Center. The match was designated as the NAIA Match of the Week.
Bellevue fell to 15-7 overall and 4-1 in the NSAA. Jamestown improved to 11-6 on the season and 3-1 in league play.
Senior Pakalana Helekahi (16), sophomore Shayla Scanlan (12) and junior Michaela Gardner (11) all finished with double figure kills to pace the Bruin offense. Gardner hit .417 in the match and added three digs and a block.
Freshman Maddie Squiers directed the BU offense to a .253 hitting percentage, finishing with 53 assists, while adding five kills, four digs and two blocks.
Defensively, the Bruins were paced by junior Taylor Holz' 15 digs and a service ace.
The Jimmies, who also fought back from a seven-point deficit in the 25-23 win in the second game, were led by Morgan Hensch's 20 kills and three blocks.
Haley Glasoe hit .500 in the match with 11 kills on 22 errorless swings, while adding a match-high five blocks.
The Bruins will travel to Dickinson, N.D. tomorrow (Oct. 1) for an 11 a.m. (Mountain time) conference match at Dickinson State University.