Box Score

BETHANY — Kevin Ingram might need a pacemaker before the end of the season as the head coach watched his Southern Nazarene team pull off its third straight five-set win with a 3-2 (14-25, 20-25, 25-22, 25-18, 15-11) victory over Southwestern Oklahoma State.

It is the second time the Crimson Storm (7-2) this season have come from being down 2-0 to win in five sets. SNU also has rattled off three straight and has won six of its last seven.

Freshman Kira Roberts had a nice debut for the home opener with 11 kills and eight blocks. Taryn Steele was right behind with 10 kills and also led the way on the defensive end with 18 digs to match the team high with Sarah Groesbeck. It was also the fifth double-double in nine matches for Steele. Ellen Martin and Morgan Loewen each ripped eight kills and Martin added 11 digs. Cuyler Vesely also dished out a match-high 36 assists.

The Crimson Storm as a team totaled 16 blocks.

The Bulldogs jumped out ahead early, with a five-point run that set the Crimson Storm back on their heels in the opening set at 5-1. SWOSU then used a 6-2 run to lead 14-5. SNU cut it to 16-9 on a Roberts and Loewen block, but a 5-1 run by the Bulldogs put a 10-point cushion up at 21-11 and SWOSU crused from there.

The second set proved to be much like the first, with the Bulldogs seizing the lead early and refusing to let go. A 6-2 run from SWOSU midway through the set was all the room that the Bulldogs needed. SNU closed that gap to 20-19, but the Bulldogs wrapped up a 2-0 match lead with a 5-1 run.

After loosing the first two games handily, the Crimson Storm responded with strength in the third set. Rather than the runs belonging to SWOSU, it was SNU who spread a lead on their opponents. The Storm climbed out to a 17-12 lead before an 8-2 run gave SWOSU its first lead of the set at 20-19. The Bulldogs led 21-20 when a Steele kill sparked a 5-1 run to take the set and shift momentum back to SNU.

The train kept rolling in the fourth set as SNU used a 16-6 run to lead 19-12 and held on to that lead to force a fifth set.

In the final set, a 5-0 run by the Crimson Storm, after trailing 6-5, was just the push SNU needed to slide by Southwestern.

SNU now heads to Hastings, Neb., for a two-day tournament Friday and Saturday and will return back home for Sooner Athletic Conference opener against Oklahoma City, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m.