SPRINGFIELD, Mo.– Drury rallied from an early deficit in the fifth set to pull out a 3-2 win over Missouri S&T on Saturday in the O'Reilly Family Event Center.
 
The Miners won four of the first five points to start the fifth set and led 8-6 when the Panthers reeled off seven straight points to take a 13-8 lead before closing out the match 15-9. Drury won the opening set 25-20 but lost the second 25-23. The Panthers seized a 2-1 advantage with a 25-17 win in the third set, but Missouri S&T pushed the match to a fifth set with a 25-23 win in the fourth.
 
Drury senior Juliana Squire put up 20 kills and added 16 digs to lead the Panthers. Kayli Duncan added a season-high 17 kills, five block assists and posted a .625 hitting percentage, while Lauren Tyler hit a season-high with 50 assists.  
 
"This feels great," said Drury head coach Jenifer Bahner-Hill. "This is something this team has been working really hard for and we've lost so many close matches. So for us to come out against a good S&T team and go five sets and get that victory is something this team really needed."
 
Madelyn Mason had 19 kills for Missouri S&T and Jordan Burton added 15. Annie Arrand contributed 32 assists.
 
"We've been struggling in the last few matches, so today we were able to come out with some fire, passion and heart and just gave it all on the court to get the 'dub'" said Squire.
 
Missouri S&T fell to 8-6 and 1-3 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, while Drury lifted their record to 2-12 and 1-3 in the league.
 
The Panthers are back at home on Tuesday in a non-conference match with Arkansas-Fort Smith at 6 p.m. in the O'Reilly Family Event Center.
 
 
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