SPEARFISH, S.D. – It took five sets but Western State Colorado University volleyball won the third match in a row. The Mountaineers came from behind to defeat Black Hills State University 3-2.
 
Western (11-9, 7-5 RMAC) faced elimination in the fourth set. BHSU (5-14, 3-8 RMAC) rallied three straight points to tie the set at 19 points. The Mountaineers then got kills from Avery Burkholder, Molly Hothan, Tori Gaherty and two by Jordan Eatwell to put Western over the top and extend the match, winning the fourth set 25-22.
 
The Mountaineers took care of business in the fifth set, winning 15-11, to win their third straight match.
 
Gaherty was a force to be reckoned all match long, recording a match and career high 27 kills.
 
After winning the first set 25-23, the Yellow Jackets won the following two sets 25-15 and 25-22.
 
Of the 67 kills recorded by Western, setter Allison Walker assisted 50 of those kills.
 
For BHSU, Brynn Eckhardt led the team in kills with 15.
 
Eatwell, Burkholder and Hothan also recorded double digits kills. Eatwell recorded 12, while Hothan added 11 and Burkholder supplied 10.
 
With the win, Western climbs into tie for fifth place in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference standings.
 
The Mountaineers will continue the road trip next weekend when they face Colorado Mesa University on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Grand Junction, Colo. and Westminster College on Saturday at 4 p.m. in Salt Lake City, Utah.