NASHVILLE – The Lipscomb University volleyball program got out to a strong start with back-to-back set wins over the University of North Alabama, but the Lions forced a fifth set with two straight wins of their own. Tied at 10, the Bisons used a 5-2 run to seal the victory Friday evening inside Allen Arena.

Final Score: Lipscomb 3, North Alabama 2 (25-22, 25-17, 22-25, 23-25, 15-12)
Location: Allen Arena
Records: Lipscomb (8-8, 5-0), North Alabama (9-9, 3-2)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Despite 11 ties and four lead changes in the opening set, the Bisons stayed one step ahead of the Lions. Lipscomb's front row stayed perfect until an attack error that got UNA closer, 21-19.

After a service ace and a Nicole Sargent kill to even the score at 21, the Bisons got a huge side out on a service error to take the 22-21 lead and won the next two to achieve set point after consecutive attack errors by the Lions. 

Despite North Alabama getting the ball back thanks to a Lipscomb bad set, Karlie McNabb slammed down her fourth kill of the set to give the Bisons the opening set win, 25-22. 

In the second set, Lipscomb had control throughout. Leading 15-12, the Bisons finished the set on a 10-5 run thanks to kills from McNabb and Berkley Mischler. 

Lipscomb recorded 15 kills in the set, and held North Alabama to six kills and a .000 attack percentage to win 25-17 and go up two sets to none. 

In the third set, North Alabama came back and posted 16 kills. Tied at 13, Reece Rickets gave the Lions the lead for good with three straight kills. Following that, an attack error made it a 17-13 lead for the visitors. 

Lipscomb trailed 20-16 and scored three straight points to cut the deficit to one thanks to an assisted block by Mischler and Addi Pelham, followed by back-to-back spikes by McNabb and Pelham.

The Bisons tried to wrap it up in three sets after Meg Mersman made it a 23-22 deficit on the kill, but a service error and a Ricketts kill gave UNA the 25-22 win. 

After eight ties and three lead changes in the third, the fourth set brought similar drama with nine ties and five changes. Lipscomb saw a 23-22 lead evaporate thanks to three straight strikes by Ricketts, who totaled 10 kills in the frame, to help the Lions to a fifth set, 25-23. 

The fifth saw the teams go back-and forth. Lipscomb got out to a 4-1 lead, but it was the Lions who had the 8-7 lead at the media. 

After a long delay due a double challenge, the Lions made it an 11-10 lead on a Ricketts kill, but Pelham responded with a kill of her own that gave Lipscomb a 4-1 run to win the set and match, 15-12. 

Kills by Mischler, McNabb and Pelham helped the Bisons pick up the five-setter. 

QUOTABLE
Hear from Karlie McNabb and Brandon Rosenthal following Lipscomb's five-set win.

KEY STATISTICS
It was a career night for Karlie McNabb. The graduate student led the Bisons front row with a .480 attack percentage, committing four errors on 50 swings, putting down 28 kills. She also recorded seven digs and two service aces.

Courtney Jones recorded 13 kills and added six digs, while Meg Mersman dropped 10 kills. 

Addi Pelham posted a season-high 14 kills with a .522 attack percentage, totaling 23 attacks with two errors committed. 

Berkley Mischler totaled 12.5 points on the night with six total blocks, a season high, and had nine kills. 

Sophia Hudepohl assisted on 64 of the team's 73 kills and added 10 digs for the double-double. 

Libby Steinhart led the defense with 18 digs, followed by Kelsey Schenck's 12, which matched a career high for the freshman. 

HERD NOTES
Lipscomb improved to 14-1 over North Alabama since the Lions made the move to Division I in 2018. It marked the first time in the series that a match went all five sets and just the third time in the series where it was not a three-set sweep.

There were 33 ties and 15 lead changes in the match. 

Lipscomb has won five matches in a row overall and nine straight in conference play, dating back to last season.

The Bisons entered the weekend averaging 15 kills per set. With 75 on Friday, they met that average exactly. In its last six matches, Lipscomb has had 56 kills or better. 

UP NEXT
The Lippy homestand wraps up on Saturday evening with a ASUN match versus Central Arkansas at 6 p.m.