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PLAINVIEW, TX: The Texas Wesleyan University volleyball team (28-5) just fell short in a 3-2 (19-25, 16-25, 25-23, 25-20, 15-17) "instant classic" semifinal Sooner Conference tournament match with host Wayland Baptist University on Friday.
 
The Lady Rams controlled the game early in the first with a 12-8 lead on a Chalon Anderson ace. The Pioneers closed the gap, but the Lady Rams posted 16-13 edge on a Brianna Jaramillo kill. Again the home team caught up, tying the game at 19-19. The Pioneers hit on a 6-0 rally from there to take the opening set, 25-19.
 
The Lady Rams got in trouble early in the second set after a 13-3 run by the Pioneers established a dominant advantage. Wayland made it a 19-8 lead before the Lady Rams dug in. Texas Wesleyan rode a 5-0 rally capped by a Sasha Robinson, Jaramillo block to make it 19-13. A Shelby Stinnett smash made it 22-16 deficit, but the run was not enough and WBU took a 25-16 second set.
 
As expected the third set was tight, with the Lady Rams holding a 13-6 edge on another Stinnett kill. Morgan Reese threw down a service ace to make it a 16-7 game. Wayland led a furious comeback largely due to a 7-1 run to even the game at 23-23. Britni Mohle answered with a smash, and the Lady Rams were able to take the third set.
 
Texas Wesleyan maintained momentum into the fourth set, trying to even the match. The Lady Rams played fast and furious, getting a 10-5 lead with help from an Alanna Hayhurst kill.  The lead was cut down to two at 15-13, but the Lady Rams never gave back the lead and earned a 25-20 win to force a fifth and final set.
 
The Pioneers took a 5-3 advantage to start the fifth set, but the Lady Rams fought back as Brittni Mohle sent a laser across the floor to keep the game within one point at 6-5. Sasha Robinson fed a long set to Stinnett to tie the game at 7 apiece. The two offenses went back and forth, showcasing their talent in one of the most important games of the season. Wayland Baptist took a timeout after a Hayhurst kill, while Robinson and Carli Owens teamed up on a block to take a 10-9 edge.
 
After an extremely long and grueling volley, an error allowed the Pioneers to even the set. WBU took a 12-10 advantage after an Alex Wood kill sent the home crowd into a frenzy. Owens swatted down a kill before the game was tied again at 12-12, but Wayland fought back to put Wesleyan in danger at 14-12. Again TXWES stood strong on the brink of elimination and kept the ball alive long enough for Owens to charge through another kill to tie the set at 14 all.
 
Wayland took a timeout before another long volley ended in another Owens kill for a 15-14 edge. WBU battled right back to even things as the pressure mounted. The Pioneers got a block to hit their side of the court, before the home team squeaked out a kill to take the match 3-2 with a 17-15 fifth set win.  
 
Stinnett easily had her best match of the season rocking the gym with 23 kills and 21 digs. Hayhurst was big for the Rams with 14 kills and 16 digs. Robinson notched a season high 52 assist, adding 11 digs for the Rams.  Anderson posted 29 digs in the match.