OWENSBORO, Ky. -- The Lady Miners went the distance Saturday -- and were rewarded for it.
After Kentucky Wesleyan pulled out a 30-27 win in game four of their match, the Lady Miners had a sensational fifth game and took a 15-9 victory for their first road win in their inaugural season, a 3-2 decision over the Panthers at Jones Gymnasium.
UMR dropped the opening game of the match by a 30-27 count as well, but won game two 30-25 and the third game 32-30. Kentucky Wesleyan came back to win the fourth game after UMR had a lead, but the Lady Miners took a quick lead in the final game and never surrendered it to pick up their third win of the season.
The Lady Miners had a 27-26 lead in the first game after a kill by Leandra Pelae, but the Panthers scored the final four points to take the lead in the match. UMR took the advantage for good in the second game at 16-15 on a setting error by KWC, then got a kill from Pelae to wrap that game up.
In the third game, UMR made an 8-1 run in the early stages to take a 16-14 lead, only to see the Panthers take the lead back by scoring four straight to go up 23-22. UMR rallied to reclaim the advantage at 30-29 to give it game point, but after missing that chance, got another at 31-30 and won the game on a kill by Samantha Klump.
UMR had the score in its favor for much of game four before the Panthers went in front at 21-20. UMR tied the game up at 22 on a kill by Pelae, but three straight points by the Panthers put them back in the lead and they went on to force a fifth game.
The Lady Miners, however, got kils from Maddie Owak and Pelae and a service ace from Lauren Summerville to open a 4-0 lead to begin the final game, then built the lead to 11-2 on a block by Lynsey Jorgensen. Kentucky Wesleyan was able to hold off game point three times, but setter Ashlyn Balensiefer tapped a ball over the net to get the final point and the victory for UMR.
Pelae finished with a season-high 26 kills and a .392 hitting percentage in the game for the Lady Miners, while Owak recorded 11 kills and Jorgensen nine. Balensiefer had 51 assists in the match while Bridget Williams was one of four Lady Miner with double figures in digs with a team-high 23. Balensiefer had 14 digs while Pelae and Owak had 11 each.
UMR will open a three-game homestand Thursday when it hosts Saint Joseph's in a GLVC match at 7 p.m. at the Bullman Multi-Purpose Building.
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