MARYVILLE, Mo. - The University of Central Missouri Jennies came from six points down in the fifth set to score a victory over the No. 18-ranked Northwest Missouri State University volleyball team at Bearcat Arena on Saturday afternoon.

The Jennies won by set scores of 25-17, 16-25, 25-17, 19-25 and 17-15. UCM is 5-4 overall and 2-0 in MIAA play. Northwest has dropped three straight matches to fall to 5-5 overall and 0-2 in league action. Northwest has played five five-set matches in its first 10 encounters this season. Northwest is 2-3 in five-set matches this year.

UCM controlled the opening set that featured four ties and no lead changes. UCM hit .225 in the opener, while Northwest hit .021 with eight kills and seven attack errors. 

Northwest evened the match at a set each with a 25-16 win in the second. Payton Kirchhoefer carried the offensive load in the second with seven kills. The middle of the set was tight as it had 10 ties and three lead changes. Northwest used a 9-1 spurt to turn a 14-13 lead into a 23-14 advantage. Northwest closed out the set with a 25-16 win.

The third belonged to the Jennies as the visitors took a 25-17 victory. UCM hit .227 with 13 kills and three errors. Northwest hit .021 with 11 kills to go against 10 attack errors. Northwest had a 10-8 lead, but UCM used a 10-2 run to take an 18-12 lead. UCM extended the lead to eight at 21-13 as it closed out the set.

Northwest found its back against the wall in a tussle in the fourth set. The fourth set had five lead changes and 10 ties. The final tie came at 16-16. Northwest finished the set on a 9-3 run to take a 25-19 victory. Northwest hit .288 in the fourth with 20 kills and five attack errors. A quartet of Bearcats notched four kills in the set - Olivia Dir, Avery Kemp, Kirchhoefer and Abby Brunssen.

Northwest continued its momentum into the decisive fifth set. The Bearcat broke out to a 9-3 lead. However, the Jennies would not back down. The Jennies fought off four match points for the Bearcats before gaining the 17-15 triumph.

Both squads surpassed triple digits in digs with Central Missouri having 110 and Northwest totaling 102. Bearcat defensive specialist Kristen Ford tallied a career-high 33 digs in the matchup.

Kirchhoefer led Northwest with 16 kills. Dir was close behind with 15 kills. Kemp tallied a team-best four blocks. Ella Caffery ran the offense and was credited with 50 assists and 16 digs. Kyah Luhring posted 22 digs.

Northwest will look to turn its fortunes around Tuesday at 6 p.m. with a match against Missouri Western in St. Joseph, Mo.