GEORGETOWN, TEXAS -  The Southwestern University Pirates volleyball team battled through five intense sets to take down Texas Lutheran on the road Wednesday night, earning a hard-fought 3-2 victory (25-21, 24-26, 21-25, 25-20, 15-12). The Pirates showed grit and resilience after falling behind, rallying to capture the final two sets and secure the win.

Following the win, Head Coach Don Flora praised his team's composure and development through the back-and-forth match. "Having a deep 5-set battle tonight was good for our development and our understanding of how to meet or exceed opponents' effort," Flora said. "We are learning how to handle this load in each match."He also commended the team's setting duo for their leadership and execution late in the contest."The setters, Taylor and Annika, did a tremendous job in their decision making and distribution, especially late in the 4th and 5th sets," Flora added. Looking ahead, Flora emphasized continued growth."We have a lot to develop in certain areas of our transition defense and offense, but we are making some solid progress."

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

• Freshman Chloe Blanchard led the offensive charge with a season-high 20 kills, while Tatum Ahrens delivered an all-around standout performance with 19 kills and 22 digs. 

• Defensively, Brooklyn Spikes was a force at the net, recording three block assists and one solo block.

• At the setter position, Annika Flora dished out 36 assists, complemented by 24 assists from Taylor Johnson, helping fuel the Pirates' offensive rhythm. 

GAME NOTES

• The Pirates' attack was balanced and relentless, finishing with 70 team kills and a .167 hitting percentage.

• From the service line, Lauren McIntyre, Izzy Rodriguez, and Ahrens each added two aces to keep the Bulldogs under pressure.

UP NEXT 

• The Pirates return home for two key SAA matchups this weekend, hosting Sewanee on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. and Centre on Sunday at 11:00 a.m.