STORM LAKE, Iowa (Oct. 16, 2024) - Playing back on its home court for the first time in a month, the Buena Vista University volleyball team pushed visiting Nebraska Wesleyan University to the limits, but the Beavers came up just short in a five-set thriller by scores of 25-18, 21-25, 25-21, 18-25, 15-6.

Fifth-year senior led a balanced BVU offensive attack with 12 kills while Sydney Meints followed with eight. Freshman Peyton Ogle got the start and turned in a career-high six kills as did Grace Coble. BVU had 43 kills overall for the match, including 13 in the fourth set alone.

Sophomore Jadyn Rausch dished out a team-high 30 assists and added 14 digs, Mallory Ignaszweski had 18 with Hope Vanderlinden chipping in with 10.

The two teams battled it out for the first four sets before the Prairie Wolves got off to a fast start in the winner-take-all fifth set to run away with that frame.

BVU scored four of the first five points on the night to begin the opening set but NWU slowly chipped away and managed to get back to tie things up at 6-6 and eventually build an 8-6 cushion. The two teams went back-and-forth with neither leading by more than three until the Prairie Wolves rattled off four straight to begin pulling away at 19-15.

Another fast start by the Beavers put them out in front, 6-2, in the second set and never looked back. The Prairie Wolves did get as close as 12-11 before a 6-1 spurt by BVU allowed them to begin pulling away at 18-12. The lead grew to as much as 23-14, and despite a late charge by NWU, the Beavers held on for the 25-21 victory.

The Prairie Wolves built an 11-3 out of the gate in the third set and maintained that advantage until BVU made a late run to get as close as 22-19 down the stretch but came up short 25-21. The fourth set turned out to be all BVU with an early 10-point lead at 17-7, and the Beavers never looked back.

Starting the fifth set on the same side that it won each of their sets, the Beavers scored three of the first four points but then NWU stopped that momentum with an 8-0 run to take control and finish off the match.

Molly Ramirez turned in 21 kills to help lead the Prairie Wolves (16-5, 3-1 A-R-C)

Buena Vista falls to 5-16 overall (0-4 A-R-C) and returns to action on Oct. 23 at Simpson College starting at 6 p.m.