The Culver-Stockton women's volleyball team and Avila University battled for five sets with the Eagles coming away with a 26-24, 18-25, 27-25, 23-25, 15-11 non-conference victory over the Wildcats Saturday night in Kansas City, Mo.

The match was as close as the scores indicated with three of the five sets separated by just a two point difference. The exception was the second set where the Wildcats jumped out a 7-1 lead and never looked back, and the deciding set when the Eagles used a three-point run late in the set to secure the victory.

In set one and three, the Wildcats had opportunities to win those sets, falling just short each time. 

In the first set, C-SC rallied from a 24-22 deficit to tie the set at 24 before the Eagles won the final two points. In the third set, the Wildcats had a set point at 24-23 but Avila got the side out and then won four of the next five points to take the set.

Victoria Pollard registered a double-double for the Wildcats with a team-high 17 kills and 15 digs. Pollard was phenomenal at the net with a .485 attack percentage, committing just one error on 33 attempts.

Two other Wildcats recorded kills in double figures.

Zoe Irvin totaled 13 kills while Faith Hopgood garnered 10 kills for the Wildcats, who had 61 kills overall. 

Lauren Bloom, who had six service aces in a victory over Graceland Thursday night, had another fine serving game with five aces Saturday. Bloom also had a team-high 31 set assists and 10 digs.

Defensively, libero Jaysie Baez collected a team-best 17 digs to lead the back row. Lael Temple and Lexia Capes joined Baez, Pollard and Bloom in double figures in digs with 11 and 10, respectively.

The Wildcats (5-7) return to Heart of America Athletic Conference play this Tuesday, Sept. 16, when they travel to Fulton, Mo., to face William Woods University. First serve is set for 7 p.m.