DALLAS (PA) – Staring at match point and the possibility of letting a 2-0 lead in sets slip away, Delaware Valley College rallied to score the final three points of the fifth set and defeated host Misericordia University, 3-2, in a Freedom Conference contest. Set scores were 25-19, 25-19, 22-25, 20-25 and 16-14.

It marked the second year in a row that the two teams went the distance in their match. Last year's contest took place in the final week of the season and Misericordia's 3-2 triumph in Doylestown proved to be the difference in the Cougars advancing to the conference playoffs and the Aggies staying home.

The 2011 meeting took place in just the second week of the season, but it could prove to be vital down the road. Both teams saw their Freedom mark go to 1-1 with Delaware Valley improving to 8-3 overall and Misericordia slipping to 3-4.

The Aggies took early command of the match only to see Misericordia come back to force the fifth and final set. The Cougars took a 10-7 lead, but Delaware Valley battled back and tied it up at 13-13.

An Aggie service error gave Misericordia the chance to serve for the match, but Delaware Valley tied it on a kill by Janel Gluch. That gave the serve back to the Aggies and Alyssa Riggins produced an ace to give Delaware Valley a 15-14 lead and a match point opportunity. The Cougars then had an attack error and the Aggies had the big road win.

Gluch paced Delaware Valley with 18 kills and four solo blocks while fellow sophomore Destinee Horning notched 17 kills, 13 digs  and two aces. A pair of freshmen had strong outings as well as Gina Page tallied nine kills while Crystal Ronan handed out 44 assists. Riggins' big ace in the final moments of the match was the sophomore's second of the evening.

Molly Harleman and Cailinb McCullion paced Misericordia with 16 and 14 kills respectively. The two also combined for 30 digs and four aces.