KIRKSVILLE, Mo. - A familiar tale unfolded on Saturday afternoon in Pershing Arena as the Truman State Volleyball program forced a fifth set on rival and conference-leader Quincy (Ill.) University before dropping a heartbreaker 15-12 in the deciding set to fall 3-2.

Truman State jumped on the Hawks in the first set and grabbed an early 6-2 lead but Quincy reeled the Bulldogs in and went on a 9-1 run to win the opener 25-16.

The Bulldogs fell behind 6-1 in set two but rallied to take their first led in the set at 22-21. They were able to hold on to that advantage eventually tying the match at a set apiece with a 27-25 victory.

Truman State scored four straight points to force a timeout in set three tied at 13 each. Quincy rattled off six of the next eight points following the stoppage and would go up 2-1 with a 25-19 win.

The fourth set bounced back and forth with neither team gaining any momentum. Truman broke a 22-22 tie and finished with the final three points to again force the fifth set.

After spotting Quincy the first three points, the Bulldogs responded with five straight and forced a QU timeout. Leading 6-4, Quincy went on a 6-1 run as the Bulldogs burned both of their timeouts to spur the Hawks momentum. However, the teams simply traded points and Quincy grabbed the final set 15-12 to remain on top of the GLVC with a 4-0 league record.

Michaela Goad led three Bulldogs in double-digits in kills with 15 followed by Autum Erickson with 13 and Jessica Proszenyak with 10. Emma Baierl had 32 assists. 

The Bulldogs suffered their fourth straight fifth-set match. Six of their last seven matches have all gone the distance and 10 of their 15 matches this season have all been five set matches. 

Truman State will head out on the road for matches against Drury (Mo.) and Southwest Baptist next weekend.