LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Wabash College rallied through a tightly contested five-set battle Saturday afternoon to earn a key Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League road victory, defeating Spalding University 3-2 at Columbia Gym.

Wabash (7-9 overall, 4-1 MCVL) defeated Spalding (7-8, 1-4 MCVL) by set scores of 18-25, 25-20, 25-22, 24-26, 15-11, pulling away late in the decisive fifth set to claim its fourth league victory. The result moves the Little Giants into a tie for third place in the conference standings with Wittenberg, trailing co-leaders Calvin and Trine, both at 5-1.

The Little Giants hit .286 as a team with 60 kills on 133 attempts, overcoming Spalding's 66-kill effort by limiting errors and producing timely offense in key stretches.

Junior outside hitter Bawibawi Thang led Wabash with 16 kills and a .270 hitting percentage, adding 11 digs and two block assists for a team-high 19.5 points. Middle blocker Shad Wilson contributed 15 kills and two block assists, while Andrew Hostetler added nine kills on an efficient .500 hitting mark along with five total blocks.

Freshman Jaden Greenwell delivered nine kills and three blocks, and Ben Donaldson chipped in eight kills while hitting .444 with six total blocks. Setter Matthew Stitle directed the offense with 52 assists and added four service aces and five digs.

Defensively, libero Piotr Wolan anchored the back row with 16 digs as Wabash totaled 89 digs and 12 team blocks in the match.

Spalding was led by Max Atherton's 22 kills and Tye-Anthony Curtis' 17 kills, with the Golden Eagles hitting .255 as a team.

After dropping the opening set, Wabash responded by controlling the second and third frames. The Little Giants hit .261 in the second set and surged to a .448 attack percentage in the third, recording 16 kills with just three errors to take a 2-1 match lead.

Spalding forced a fifth set by edging Wabash 26-24 in the fourth, rallying late in a set that featured multiple ties and momentum swings. The match overall included 22 tie scores and 10 lead changes, underscoring the evenly matched contest.

In the decisive fifth set, Wabash seized control midway through the frame. A kill by Hostetler and consecutive points from Thang pushed the Little Giants ahead, and a late kill by Donaldson sealed the 15-11 victory.

Wabash delivered its most efficient offensive set in the finale, hitting .412 with nine kills and just two errors while siding out at a 75-percent clip.

The Little Giants return home next weekend for two pivotal MCVL matchups, hosting Calvin on Friday at 7 p.m. before welcoming Trine on Saturday at 1 p.m. in contests that could significantly impact the conference standings.