Kutztown, Pa. - Thanks in part to Katie Lesinski's career-high 23 kills and her program-record 73 attack attempts, the Millersville volleyball team was able to take down Kutztown in a five-set thriller in which each period was decided by four points or less. No Marauder has had that many kills in a match dating back to at least the beginning of the 2008 season.

The Marauders (13-15, 6-13 PSAC) won with set scores of 30-28, 21-25, 25-23, 22-25, and 17-15 and after losing six straight earlier this season, Millersville has won four of five to keep its hopes of a third-straight PSAC Tournament berth alive. Meanwhile, the Golden Bears (12-15, 6-13 PSAC) have dropped nine of 12 in a stretch that began with a 3-1 loss on Oct. 4 in Pucillo Gymnasium. The Marauders now find themselves two games out of fourth place in the east with three matches to play in the 2014 regular season.

This showdown saw an astounding 40 ties and 17 lead changes throughout the five stanzas. The biggest lead that either team held in the first set was five when Millersville was up 15-10 in the midst of a 6-2 run that was fueled by three Lesinski kills. The home team then embarked on a 7-3 run of its own to cut the deficit to one, 18-17. From that point on, neither team was able to go up by more than three points but the visitors scored the final three to take the period by two points. 

Kutztown opened the second stanza red hot and was on a 9-3 run to start. However, as was the trend all night, the Marauders battled back with a 10-4 fury to tie the set up at 13-13 and the run's catalyst was five kills along with two service aces. To end the period, neither team could go up by more than three until the hosts did 24-20 and won the stanza by four points to tie the match up at one set apiece.

In the third period, the away team was up 4-1 in the beginning but the Golden Bears eventually knotted the score at 6-6 and later went up 12-8. After four straight points from Millersville, again, it was tied, 12-12. Kutztown regained the advantage though at 13-12 and 16-15 but the Marauders took the lead back and didn't give it up taking the stanza by two.

In the fourth set, Millersville opened the biggest lead of either team on the night when it was up seven, 13-6. To end the set though, the Golden Bears reeled off 19 of the final 28 points to win the period by three. 

The biggest lead that either team held in the fifth and deciding stanza was three but the Marauders scored the final two points and won the set by two to earn the victory.

Along with those 23 kills and 73 swings, Lesinski set a personal best in digs with 28. Mary Paul tied her career high in kills with 14, Kayla Wallace tied a season high with 11 and Erin Harman also sent home 16. Freshman Victoria Biggins was absolutely on fire at the setter position and registered a personal-best 58 assists, the most for a Marauder since Jess Franz tallied 59 on Sept. 15, 2012 against Ursuline. Taylor Smith also reached a new personal best in service aces with seven and is now tied for third in the PSAC with 49 on the season and tied for third in aces per set with 0.51. Those are the most aces in a match for a Marauder since Sue Caramanico had seven on Sept. 8, 2012 versus Mount Olive.

Defensively, four Marauders accumulated at least 10 digs alongside Lesinski's 28 including Brooklyn Smith (27), Taylor Smith (18), Harman (17), and Biggins (12). That set a new career high for the freshman Harman. Above the net, Paul had one solo block and two assisted. 

As a team, the Marauders had 71 kills, which is the most since 71 against Kutztown on Nov. 9 of last season. Millersville also had 211 attack attempts, the most since at least the beginning of the 2008 season. The Marauders' 105 digs were also the most of the 2014 season.

Millersville will look to stay hot on Saturday at East Stroudsburg in a match set for a 1 p.m. start.