Titans fall in tight five-set match with Indian River

The Eastern Florida State College women's volleyball team lost a tight five-set match with Indian River State College Thursday night.

After taking the first set 25-21, they lost the next two 15-25, 20-25 before a big finish gave the Titans a 25-23 win and sent the match to a fifth-set tiebreaker. But Indian River State College prevailed 15-9 in the Southern Conference matchup.

The Titans came out strong, leading almost the entire first set led by the combination of Rachael Gunn and Malvis Ortiz.

But Indian River State College turned up the intensity, jumping out to a big lead and never looking back in the second set. All tied up the third set was tight until Indian River went on a 7-0 run and finished the set 25-20.

The Pioneers took a 23-22 lead in the fourth set, but a kill by Gunn followed by a big block and a kill by Ortiz sent the match into the fifth set.

Up 8-7, Indian River State College would outscore the Titans 7-2 to pick up the win.

Delaney Smith finished with 12 kills while Gunn and Ortiz each had 10.

The Titans fall to 9-5 overall and 1-1 in the Southern Conference and will be right back on the court Friday, traveling south for matches with South Florida State and Webber International University JV.

Eastern Florida will be back at Titan Field House Thursday, hosting Palm Beach State College at 6 p.m. Admission is free.