MONMOUTH, Ore. – Trailing two sets to one, the Saints pieced together a complete fourth set to force a fifth set. In the final set, Megan Vernoy and Ililani Kamaka, who combined for 36 kills, carried the Saints for their first GNAC win of the season, 25-14, 17-25, 21-25, 25-15, 15-13 over Western Oregon.
 
Rewind to September 1, the Saints swept Academy of Art for their second win of the year. Fast forward 41 days, and the Saints collected their third win of the year and first in conference play. The Saints (3-14, 1-10) used a season-high 14 aces, along with 58 kills and 73 digs to overpower the Wolves (5-13, 2-9) and come away with a five-set win.
 
The Saints got off on a quick start, highlighted by a service ace by Courtney Misner to put SMU on top 5-1. The Wolves managed to trim the lead to one at 10-9 before the Saints pulled away in the set. Saint Martin's closed out the set on 15-6 run, fueled by kills from Alyssa Bartlett, Ililani Kamaka and Rachel Gondrezick.
 
Saint Martin's once again took the lead early in the second set, with a kill by Megan Vernoy putting SMU up 8-5. Western Oregon slowly chipped away at the lead and eventually surpassed the Saints at 13-12. The Wolves never looked back and cruised to a 25-17 set win.
 
In the third and tie breaking set, both sides battled for any kind of lead. With their seventh tied score at only 10-10, Western Oregon found the first edge, taking a 14-11 lead. The Saints responded quickly, tying the set back up at 14-14. Four more lead changes later, Western Oregon used a 6-1 run to narrowly edge the Saints 25-21.
 
With their backs to wall, the Saints fired on all cylinders in the fourth set. Western Oregon managed to keep the score within two, 13-11, with SMU on top. The Saints put away the set with a 9-2 run, highlighted by two service aces by Vernoy, and one for Kylie Alos. Saint Martin's forced the fifth and final set with a 25-15 set four win.
 
In the winner take all set, Saint Martin's continued the theme of the match, jumping out to an early 6-2 lead. Western Oregon did not go quietly, and after slowly chipping away, tied the set at 12-12. The Wolves captured their first lead of the set at 13-12; however, the Saints responded with force. Kills by Kamaka and Vernoy sealed the match victory at 15-13, and the Saints' first GNAC win of the season.
 
"Such a great team effort tonight," said head coach Jon Killingbeck. "We refocused in on a few things this week and it paid off tonight. I couldn't be more proud of the team tonight."
 
Vernoy and Kamaka led the Saints on the night with 18 kills each, and combined for five aces, 12 digs, and 42 points. Gondrezick finished with the double-double at 11 kills and 11 digs, while Bartlett pieced together 36 assists and 11 digs. Misner wrapped up the match with 26 digs, and Hannah McKee added 16 assists.
 
The Saints remain on the road, traveling to Concordia on Saturday, October 13 for a 2:00 p.m. afternoon match. Live stats and video of the match will be available with links on smusaints.com.