SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The Huskies rallied to beat UIW in a five-set thriller at the McDermott Center (19-25, 25-22, 24-26, 25-23, 16-14). After trailing sets 2-1, HCU came from behind to knock off the Cardinals with a late rally in the fourth set and an extra-point victory in the fifth set.

In the opening set, the Cardinals (12-11, 4-7 SLC) got off to a hot start scoring the first six points before the Huskies got to within three points at 7-4 off a three-point run. HCU narrowed the margin to one point at 11-10 off three-straight points capped off by a Mollee Henicke ace. UIW extended their lead to six points at 21-15 before the Huskies fought back to within four points at 23-19 off a kill by Audrey Pearce. The Cardinals took the opening set, 25-19, off back-to-back points.

In set two, HCU (12-11, 7-4 SLC) opened with a kill from Anna Gadway and grabbed the first two points of the set. After the Cardinals answered, the Huskies retook the lead with a kill by Gadway and Lexie Temple. Leading by one point at 6-5, HCU tallied three straight points starting with a kill by Pearce before the Cardinals responded, tying the game at 9-9 off a four-point run. Answering with back-to-back kills by Sara Arroyo, the Huskies scored eight of the next 11 points including two straight kills by Cassidy Drapela. Although the Cardinals fought back to tie the set at 20-20, HCU recorded the last three points of the set to take set two, 25-22.

The Huskies picked up where they left off in set two, scoring five of the first six points of the third set including kills by Pearce and Drapela. HCU held the lead, 9-7, before the Cardinals tallied four straight points to grab an, 11-9, lead. UIW increased their set lead to five points at 18-13 but the Huskies came roaring back with a four-point run including two kills by Arroyo and another ace by Henicke. HCU tied the set at 21-21 and forced set point at 24-23 but couldn't hold off the Cardinals taking set three in extra points, 26-24.

In a back-and-forth start to set four, the Huskies held a slim lead at 5-4 before the Cardinals recorded six straight points to take a, 10-5, lead. HCU got within one at 11-10 off a four-point run kicked off with a kill from Temple. UIW increased the set lead to four points at 19-14 but the Huskies found their rhythm tallying five of the next six points to get within a point at 20-19. After a Cardinal point, HCU retook the lead scoring four straight points ending with a kill by Pearce. The Huskies took set four, 25-23, with a kill by Drapela.

In the decisive fifth set, the Cardinals scored the opening point before the Huskies captured three straight points to take a, 3-1, lead. HCU extended their lead to four points at 7-3 off a three-point run capped off with back-to-back kills by Pearce. The Cardinals got within two points at 11-9 before HCU forced match point at 14-10. Although UIW tallied four straight points to tie the game at 14-14 and force extra points, the Huskies closed out the match on back-to-back points taking set five, 16-14.

The Huskies will return to Sharp Gym on Tuesday battling against rival, Lamar, at 6:30 p.m. Live broadcast is available via ESPN+!