Pride pull out win in five-set thriller at home over Baker

DUBUQUE, Iowa - What could have easily been a sweep in favor of the Clarke University women's volleyball team still saw the Pride come on top a little later than expected in the form of a 3-2 victory in five sets over Baker University Friday night in the Kehl Center.

The final set wasn't even settled by the 15th point in the final set as the Pride needed to fend two match points by the Wildcats as they held 14-13 and 15-14 leads. CU went on back-to-back two-point runs to take over a one-point lead, getting the final point on a kill from Rachel Haubert.

Haubert was the star of the fifth set as she replaced Danika Griffin on the left side for the fifth set after Griffin had a strong first four sets replacing regular starter Gianna Garza. Haubert and Griffin combined for 17 kills on 30 attempts with only three errors by Griffin and all six of Hauberts kills came on her nine attempts all in the fifth set.

Griffin's 11 kills were just two behind Amber Cooksley's team-leading 13 kills and one behind Maddy Melvin's 12 kills as the three outside hitters led the way in double figures for the Pride. The match-high in kills came from Baker's Savannah Nott and Taylor Kile who had 16 and 14 respectively to carry the load for the Wildcats.

Both Amber and Alana Cooksley had double-doubles on the night as Amber added 13 digs with her 13 kills and Alana finished with a team-high 31 assists while adding 10 digs. Both Kali Milder and Rylie Bohanan finished with double-digit digs as well as Milder finished with a team-high 16 and Bohanan added 10 playing in the libero spot.

Clarke women's volleyball will have a quick turnaround for their next match as they will welcome Benedictine College to the Kehl Center Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. CT.