Sterling, Kan. - Sterling College Volleyball came from behind on Tuesday night to beat Kansas Wesleyan University in a five set thriller at the Gleason Center in Sterling, Kansas. After losing the first two sets, Sterling rallied behind the strong play of setter Adrian Gonzalez, outside hitter Sara Steria, and outside hitter Brooke Denton to win three straight sets.

In the first two sets, the Lady Warriors looked sluggish and relied heavily on the play of Steria and her six kills in the first two sets. Kansas Wesleyan finished in key situations and took the first two sets 25-23 and 25-19.

The Lady Warriors turned it on in the third set. Denton stepped up her play and brought the Lady Warriors back into the match. Rachel Ediger picked up the back line, hustling to balls and diving all over the floor. Sterling won the third set 25-19 and carried their momentum into the fourth set.

Sterling started the fourth set off strong, but then fell behind late. Once again, the Lady Warriors fought back into the match, coming from behind and finishing the set 25-22. The win forced a fifth and final set in the match.

A total team effort in the fifth set propelled the Lady Warriors to victory. The attacking power of Denton and Steria was augmented by the play of Gelisa Thornton in the fifth set. Thornton had three kills in the final set on three attempts and the Lady Warriors finished Kansas Wesleyan with a 15-10 fifth set victory.

"I'm proud of the fact that they kept battling and fought back for the win," said Sterling Head Coach John Harding. "We've been talking about the fact that we want to keep competing and fighting no matter what. And we did that tonight."

Steria and Denton led the Lady Warriors in kills with 12 a piece. Gonzalez led in assists with 30 and Steria led in digs with 15.

The win makes the Lady Warriors 5-12 overall, 2-3 in the KCAC. A tough road test faces the Lady Warriors on Thursday as they travel to Hillsboro, Kansas to take on Tabor College. Match time is 7:00pm