FRANKFORT, Ky. – Despite dropping the first two sets of the match the Kentucky State University Thorobrettes pushed the University of Rio Grande Red Storm to the brink in a thrilling 5-set match on Tuesday evening in the historic Bell Gymnasium. The Red Storm escaped the final Kentucky State home match of the season with a 3-2 (25-14, 25-20, 18-25, 24-26, 15-13) victory.

Rio Grande had control of the match early with a kill percentage of .320 or better in the first two sets. The Red Storm were paced throughout the match by a pair of freshman. Setter Kayla Briley finished the match with a team high 42 assists. Hitter Autumn Snider was on the receiving end of many of those assists tallying 14 kills while also picking up a team high 8 blocks over the course of the match.

The Thorobrettes found their groove in the third set pushing their lead to as many as 10 points at 23-13 before finishing off the Red Storm 25-18 to force a fourth set.

The intensity of the home crowd grew throughout the match. In the fourth set, the action was back-and-forth as the two teams played one another to seven tie scores. The lead also changed hands six times in the set.

With the score tied at 24-24 the Red Storm's Chandler Brown was twice stuffed by block assists from freshman Chandler Durkee and Anjelique Kyle to close out the fourth set in favor of the Thorobrettes, 26-24.

After surrendering the first point of the deciding fifth set Kentucky State rattled off four straight points to take a 4-1 lead. From there the two teams traded points with neither side gaining an advantage of more than two points.

With the score tied at 13-13 junior Latosha Scott attempted an attack but was blocked by Snider and Rio Grande junior outside hitter Betsy Schramm. The Red Storm served the ball and after a furious sequence Snider picked up her fourteenth kill to give Rio Grande the final set and match point.

Junior Emily Grieshaber and Scott led the Thorobrettes offensively tallying 14 kills each. Kyle had a match high 45 assists for Kentucky State. Freshman Micah Rogers and Tianna Presley-Askew split time at libero during the match and both picked up double digit digs.

Next up for the Thorobrettes is their final match of the regular season. Kentucky State will travel to St. Catharine, Kentucky on Tuesday, Nov. 12 to take on the Patriots of St. Catharine College. The match will be the final tune-up for the Thorobrettes before the 2013 SIAC Volleyball Conference Tournament starting on Nov. 20 in Albany, Ga.