CASTLETON, Vt. – The Castleton women's volleyball team fell in a tough, five-set match at the hands of Southern Vermont College on Wednesday evening in Glenbrook Gymnasium by a final score of 3-2.

Alex Madsen had 30 assists in the loss, recording 30 assists for just the second time in her career. Cassidy Tedeschi led the offensive attack, accounting for 15 points on 11 kills and four service aces. J'Leen Diaz provided a balanced attack with 13 kills and 14 digs for the Spartans. Kimberly Jackson had the serve working, tallying eight aces on the night, including four consecutive aces and six total aces in the third set—one in which the Spartans came out on top. Maria Jackson joined the aforementioned Jackson with double-digit digs on the night, as K. Jackson tallied 11, and M. Jackson collected 10.

For the Mountaineers, Brin Goldman continued her successful season so far, racking up 13 kills, 21 digs and four service aces for a game-high 17 points. Gaby Oropeza had 18 digs in the Southern Vermont win, as well as six service aces. Sarah Billow chipped in with six kills and four aces to help her team to victory.

The Spartans got off to a quick start, taking an 8-4 lead early in the first set. The Mountaineers clawed back to make it 23-20 in favor of the Spartans, but back-to-back points by Castleton sealed the first-set win. The Spartans posted a .241 kill percentage in the first set, well above their season average.

In the second set, Southern Vermont ground out a 25-19 win in a set that featured a combined 16 attack errors. Castleton held a 9-7 lead early, but Southern Vermont promptly went on a 7-1 run to regain a 14-10 advantage, which it would hold through the end of the set.

Castleton bounced back with a third-set victory, but Southern Vermont would not quit, forcing a fifth and final set to decide a victor. The Mountaineers jumped out to a 9-3 lead, but five straight points by Castleton made it a 9-8 edge for the visitors. Castleton continued to fight, taking a 12-11 edge late in the set, but the Mountaineers scored four of the last five points to take home a 15-13 win in set five, and a 3-2 win on the day.

Castleton is back in action on Tuesday, Sept. 13 when it hosts SUNY Cobleskill in a non-conference match in Glenbrook Gymnasium. Game time is slated for 7 p.m.