PORTSMOUTH, Ohio – The Asbury University volleyball team rallied from a two-set deficit to win in five sets at Shawnee State on Thursday evening.

The Eagles lost the first two sets by scores of 25-21 and 25-20, but won the final three 25-15, 26-24, 15-11. With the victory, Asbury improves to 3-5 on the season.

Asbury dominated the third set and won the final four points to force a fourth. In the fourth set, the Eagles momentarily led 6-4, but Shawnee State won the next nine points to take a 13-6 lead.

Later on in the set, SSU led 20-14, and things were looking dim for the Eagles.

Needing a late rally to get back into the set, AU won seven of the next eight points to even the set at 21-21. The Eagles would rally again after trailing 24-23, by wining the final three points of the set as Mari-Grace Alexander ripped off back-to-back-to-back kills.

In the final set, Asbury left no doubt. After building a sizable 7-3 lead, the Eagles would never trail in the set. Back-to-back kills from Julia Thompson and Lizzy Rempel clinched the match for AU.

Asbury posted 63 kills and finished the contest with a .282 hitting percentage. AU also had six service aces.

Mari-Grace Alexander recorded a career-high 17 kills in the victory, while Lizzy Rempel collected 12 kills.

Hailey Jordan notched a team-high 36 assists and added 13 digs. Senior Jessie Sandefur led the Eagles with 16 digs and Kandace Eligio had 10.

Bethany Laue and Bethany Fye registered four total blocks, while Alexander tacked on three blocks.

AU is back in play on the road next Tuesday. The Eagles will matchup with Pikeville at 7 PM.