SEATTLE --- The Western Oregon volleyball team overcame a slow start to force.a fifth set, but came up short 3-2 (25-14, 22-25, 19-25, 25-19, 15-7) Saturday at Royal Broughham Pavilion.

It marked the seventh time this season WOU has played a five-set match - going 4-3 in those contests.

The Wolves (11-6 overall, 3-5 GNAC) stumbled out of the gate with a 25-14 loss in set one only to tie the match at a game apiece after using a late 5-0 run that included a Lauryn Johnson kill and a Maela Honma ace to make it 24-19 as WOU eventually won 25-22.

In the third set, the Wolves took a 16-15 lead with a Sidney Friesen ace, but the Falcons (3-13, 3-5) went a 10-3 run to end the set to take game three. Game four the Wolves overcame a 16-10 deficit thanks to a 10-0 capped by a SPU error to make it 20-16 as WOU went on to win 25-19 and force a fifth set.

WOU held a 6-5 lead in the fifth before being outscored 10-1 the rest of the way and fall to the Falcons.

Honma paced WOU with 16 kills to go along with 11 digs and two blocks. Madison Hornback had 11 kills and a team-high 17 digs while Bailee Hartsook had 10 kills. Chloe Asciuto had six blocks, five kills, 12 digs and an ace while Samantha Darby had 24 assists and Kealani Rosa added 21.

The Wolves head east to take on MSU Billings on Saturday.