GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA. -- Like two prizefighters in a 15-round bout, both Gwynedd Mercy and Penn State-Abington trades punches all night, but it was the Lions who were able to deliver the knockout blow in outlasting the Griffins in five sets Thursday night, 3-2.

Scores were 25-22, 16-25, 26-28, 25-22, and 16-14.

Statistically, several career highs were set in the match as well as team marks. The Griffins totaled 182 attack attempts, the most in eight seasons. Individually, senior Brianna Greer and Jessica Behr (Philadelphia, Pa./MaST Charter) each totaled personal bests in kills and attacks while Lauren Martin (Hershey, Pa./Hershey) set a new mark in assists. Junior Laura Kirk (Saegertown, Pa./Maplewood) racked up 27 digs, a career high.

As a team, GM hit .104 (58-33-182) on the evening with 94 digs and 46 assists. Junior Rachael Hall (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) led the Griffins with a personal record 21. Greer would total 10 kills on 36 attempts. Behr was equally impressive, registering a team-high 13 kills and three blocks (two solo).

Both teams used key rallies to help extend two of the five sets, including the fifth and final one, where nine ties and four lead changes took place.

The first set had the Lions jump out to a 12-4 lead, only to see GM roar back and tie it at 13-13. It would later move to a 19-19 score, but Abington was able to take the set. In the second, it was the Griffins racing out early, leading 7-1. The two teams then traded points enough where PSU was able to get it to a one-point GM lead (16-15). The Griffins notched nine of the next 10 points to make it a 1-1 match.

A six-point spurt from the Lions midway in the third opened up a 9-9 score. Gwynedd would find themselves down 21-12 but came storming back, on the back of six kills in a 13-3 run where they extended the set and actually led by one (25-24). Freshman Samantha Schearer (Mertztown, Pa./Brandywine Heights) delivered an ace, which was the difference to lock up set #3.

In set four, the Griffins were looking up at the score, trailing 12-3. But once again, the team rallied, clawing their way back to a 22-21 lead. The Lions, however, responded with four-straight points to close it out and send the squads to a fifth set.

The fifth set provided plenty of drama, as no team led by more than three points. Gwynedd fought off match point to knot things up at 14-14, but Penn State used back-to-back kills to cap a wild evening.

Schearer totaled a season-high nine kills, 12 digs, and three aces. Kirk would finish with 11 kills. Schearer, Kirk, and senior Lauren Tressel (Pembroke, Ma./Pembroke) each had three aces.

Sam Amaro led the Lions (3-3) with 14 kills and added 15 digs. Shannon Bellfield chipped in five kills, four blocks (two solo) and a pair of aces. The team would hit 46-28-172 (.105) on the evening.

Gwynedd Mercy is back in action on Saturday when they head to Penn State-Mont Alto for a tri-match with the hosts and Penn State-York.