MIDWAY, Ky. - Fighting for its postseason life, the Midway volleyball team started fast and overcame a pair of potentially devastating losses to eek out a 25-22, 25-16, 27-29, 23-25, 15-9 win over River States foe Indiana Southeast in a thrilling match at Marshall Gymnasium Friday.

After winning a back-and-forth opening set, the Eagles put themselves in position for a sweep with a dominant win in the second. Seemingly able to chase down nearly every 50-50 ball, Midway had a .458 hitting percentage late into the set before ending it with a still highly impressive .357.

Things would be far more competitive in the next two sets, which featured an astonishing 74 points where the teams were either tied or within one point of each other. Though rarely getting much breathing room, Midway had plenty of chances to wrap things up.

The Eagles got to match point three times in set three but couldn't finish any of them, as the Grenadiers stayed alive following consecutive kills by Ella Brooks and Abby Ruzanka. 

Midway finally appeared to gain separation in the fourth, taking a 21-17 lead on back-to-back Hannah Brink kills.

But that was answered by an 8-2 IUS run to force a fifth set. Lucky bounces that seemed to go the Eagles' way early started swerving toward the Grenadiers, who had just one of their eight points in the rally come via Midway error.

But despite the emotional rollercoaster, the Eagles were undeterred in a what became a mostly drama-free fifth set, which they started on a 5-0 scoring run.

The star of the night for Midway was Aubry Koester, who continued her recent offensive tear with 28 kills. That is the most any Eagle has had this season, breaking Koester's own mark of 26, which she achieved against Rio Grande on Oct. 14.

She had plenty of help at the net with Meghan Adams and Emily Slaughter recording 17 and 12 kills respectively. That was a career-best mark for Adams, who finished with a .519 hitting percentage and accounted for the team's final two points.

Valerie Ramos had 33 assists with Marinna Liedle adding 25, while five different players had double-digit digs. Kylie Kohrs led the way with 18, followed by Ramos (17), Emma Krutsinger (13), Slaughter (11) and Koester (10).

The win moves Midway back above .500 for the first time since Sept. 19 at 12-11. The Eagles are now 6-9 in conference play, having won four of their last five.

Friday also avenged a 3-0 loss suffered to IUS on the road just six weeks earlier.

The Eagles look to keep things going on Senior Day Saturday, when they host Indiana Columbus at noon.

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