Wichita, Kan. - The Falcons fell just short in a five-set battle against the University of Saint Mary, losing 3-2. With a tight fifth set, pushing the match to the brink against a Spires squad riding high on a seven-game win streak, the Falcons couldn't quite seal the victory. 

Despite a challenging start in the first set, the Falcons rode a wave of crowd energy to spark a 5-0 run and build early momentum in set two. Friends held on to the lead the entrie set with a captivating kill by Sofia Mekelburg to seal the deal, and tying the sets 1-1

Set 4 mirrored the intensity of set 2, with the score remaining tight as the Falcons and Spires traded points throughout. The Falcons managed to break through and claim the set, pushing the match to a decisive fifth. In the final showdown, Antonia Perier delivered clutch digs, while Sydney Lentz fired off a series of powerful kills, keeping the Falcons in the fight until the end.

Sydney Lentz dominated the night with 18 kills and 4 blocks, while Gabrielle Lujan added 10 of her own accompanied by 2 blocks. Newcomer Maysen Bruschke made an impact as well, contributing 7 kills to the Falcons' offense. Antonia Perier continued to impress, surpassing 20 digs for the seventh time this season, finishing the match with an outstanding 26 digs. Equally remarkable was Quinn Curran, with 39 assists, orchestrating the Falcons' attack throughout the match.

Up next, Friends University Falcons Volleyball takes on McPherson College in Mcpherson, Kansas at 7 pm.