MONMOUTH, Ore. --- The Western Oregon volleyball team gutted out a five-set victory over Montana State Billings 3-2 (20-25, 26-24, 25-22, 17-25, 15-6) Saturday evening at New PE Building.

WOU (7-3 overall, 1-1 GNAC) in the final set never trailed as with the game tied at 3-3 went on a 5-0 run with three kills from Bailee Hartsook and two more from freshman Kilinoelehua Helm to make it 9-4. The Wolves closed out the match with four consecutive points, getting a pair of kills from Madison Hornback and another by Chloe Asciutto.

WOU after dropping the first set jumped out to a 19-9 lead in the second after a kill by Madison Hornback. But the Yellowjackets battled back and eventually tied the set 24-24 before a kill by Emily Olson and a MSUB attack error closed out the set for the Wolves to tie the match.

WOU trailed the third set 20-13 before going on an 11-1 run - capped by a Helm kill - to make it 24-21 Wolves. WOU closed it out with a kill by Helm, but would need a fifth set after dropping the fourth 25-17).

Helm had a career-high 16 kills to lead the Wolves to go along with 17 digs. Hartsook finished with 13 kills and 18 digs and Asciutto had 10 kills, six blocks and nine digs. Laney O'Neil had a team-high 21 assists, Samantha Darby had 18 while Kealani Rosa had 14. Sophie Matlock had a team-high 22 digs.

The Wolves return to action next Saturday as they host Saint Martin's at 7 p.m.