NEWBURGH, N.Y.- The Bard College women's volleyball team rallied from a 2-1 deficit to force a fifth set at Mount St. Mary on Wednesday night, but ended up losing, 3-2.

The Raptors (2-6) jumped out to an early lead in the first set, the Knights (2-8) battled back, but Bard pulled it out, 28-26. The next two sets went Mount St. Mary's way, 25-12 and 25-18, so it looked like the fourth set would be the clincher.

Bard came to life with backs against the wall, though, producing 12 kills and just three errors (.290) in cruising to a 25-14 win the fourth set.

The Raptors were down a point for most of the fifth and deciding set, but a block by Maracela Talamantes and Kaylynn Tran eventually tied it, 11-11, and Sofia Koukia followed with a kill to give Bard a 12-11 lead. The Knights pulled it out, 15-13, on two kills, a block and an ace.

The Raptors were led by Koukia (13 kills) and Philippine Alba, who had eight kills and 21 digs. Victoria Chou had 20 assists and 16 digs; Emily Anastasi contributed 23 digs.

Megan Williams (Glenmont, NY) had 13 kills and Kristen Maddock (Medford, NY) had 44 assists for the hosts.

Liberty League play will begin for the Raptors next. They'll play Clarkson and Vassar at Rochester Institute of Technology on Friday night, then St. Lawrence and RIT at RIT on Saturday. If live links are provided, they'll be posted on the schedule page.