The Buena Vista volleyball team overcame a 2-1 deficit at home to the University of Dubuque on Tuesday night and snapped a 23-match Iowa Conference losing streak with a thrilling five-set triumph over the visiting Spartans.

Freshman Maddie Bardole, who came into the match ranked 16th nationally in kills/set, turned in a career-high 23.  That is also tied for the sixth-highest single-match total in program history.  Senior Chelsea Clayton followed with 15, while Shelby Wiederhoeft added 10.

As a team, BVU is ranked 12th nationally in kills/set, and the Beavers finished the five-set thriller with 61.

Junior Jordan Leehy dished out a match-high 43 assists, to go along with four block assists.  Fellow junior Jordan Henningsen led four players in double-digit digs with 22 with Bardole right behind with 17.

The Beavers jumped out to a 10-3 lead in the opening set, but the Spartans slowly crept their way back and pulled even for the first time at 23-23 before going on to win, 25-23.

BVU used a key 9-0 run during the second set with Henningsen serving and built an 18-9 advantage en route to a 25-18 triumph.  Dubuque then took a 2-1 lead in the match as it hung on for a 25-22 win in the third set.

The Beavers scored five straight points to take an 8-3 lead in the fourth set and never trailed the rest of the way, taking the set, 25-18.

Dubuque held a 9-6 lead in the fifth set before the Beavers scored three straight to pull even at 9-9.  The Spartans then took a slim 10-9 lead before a block and back-to-back thunderous kills by the Beavers gave them a 12-10 lead and they never looked back, winning the set 15-10.

It's the first league victory for BVU since topping Dubuque on the road, 3-1, to begin the 2010 IIAC schedule.  The win also pushed the team to 2-0 at home for the first time since 2005.

Buena Vista improves to 9-3 overall (1-1 IIAC) and will return to action this Friday and Saturday by taking part in the IIAC-NACC Crossover at Wisconsin Dells, Wis.  The team will play four matches overall, beginning with a 12:00pm contest against Marian (Wis.) on Friday afternoon.