OMAHA, Neb. – For the second consecutive match, College of Saint Mary found the winning formula in the fifth set.

The Flames trailed two sets to one and then 11-9 in the fifth set before rallying for a thrilling 23-25, 25-21, 22-25, 25-22, 16-14 Great Plains Athletic Conference volleyball victory over Hastings College Saturday on Senior Day at the Lied Fitness Center.

"We had to dig deep and find a way to come back and get the victory,'' CSM Coach Rick Pruett said. "I am so proud of their toughness and resilience. What an exciting, action-packed Senior Day.''

The victory clinched a spot in the GPAC Tournament and kept alive the Flames' hopes for a No. 6 seed. CSM improved to 14-12 overall and 7-8 in conference play, while Hastings dropped to 6-19, 3-12.

Down 11-9 in the fifth set, Madalyn Welp and Azaria Green smashed back-to-back kills to tie it at 11.

At 13-all, Green's thundering kill gave CSM a match point at 14-13, but Makenna Sutter countered with a kill for 14-all.

A double block by Green and Emma Martins after a marathon point gave the Flames another match point and this time they delivered, as a Bronco attack sailed long to give the home team the hard-fought victory.

"We had to overcome some obstacles today, but we found a way with timely serves, some big blocks and digs, and big kills,'' Pruett said.

CSM had to win the fourth set to keep the match alive, and it rallied from a 16-13 deficit to do so. Setter Kaitlyn Busby caught the Broncos flat-footed and dumped one into the open court for a kill on set point to send it to a fifth.

In the fifth, the Flames had just enough to hold off the inspired Broncos, who were playing their third match under interim coach Casey Krolikowski, after John Schmidt was recently let go.

Welp, from Sioux City, Iowa, and one of five Flames who will be completing their careers this season, led the winners with a career-high 21 kills, hitting an outstanding .350. The left-handed Martins, a freshman out of Gordon, Neb., added a career-high 11 kills, hitting .321. Green collected 10 kills while hitting .455 in the middle.

"I thought Madalyn and Emma did a great job offensively on the right side and our middle hitters made their presence known as well,'' Pruett said.

Busby finished with 29 assists and Kennedy Buck had 19. Caitlin McCormack led the way with 20 digs, followed by Elen Pruett (19) and Krissy Radicia (15).

"Our setters did a great job of getting the balls to the hot hitters when we needed a kill,'' Rick Pruett said. "Elen and Krissy played really good matches and kept us in every point.''

Elen Pruett led with three aces, while Green had one solo block and five assists and Martins notched five block assists.

The Flames honored Busby, Radicia, Paige Roberts, Jadeyn Smidt and Welp in a pre-match ceremony for Senior Day, as they are completing their athletic careers this season.

"I want to thank our seniors and their families for everything they have meant to Flames volleyball,'' Rick Pruett said. "They will be missed!''

*The JV team beat Hastings 25-22, 25-21, earning praise from their head coach.

"I am extremely proud of the JV team,'' Coach Pruett said. "They are playing good volleyball and now have won three in a row.''