TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The intensity was palpable in Birthright Alumni Hall for the Stillman College Volleyball team in the contest against the Miles College Golden Bears Monday night. However, the NCAA Division II opponent pulled out a victory in the final set to defeat the Tigers 3-2. 

To force a decisive fifth set, Stillman (1-7) had to overcome a 24-22 deficit in the fourth. The comeback started with a kill from Ava Cameron, followed by a kill from Raine Patterson to tie the contest 24-24. Back-to-back attack errors from Miles (3-3) gave the Tigers a 26-24 win to force the final set. 

In the fifth, Stillman went up 8-5 after a kill from Paige Eason to force the side change, and led 10-7 when Patterson collected another kill. The Golden Bears worked back to force a 12-12 tie and took firm control to take the 15-13 set win and earn a hard-fought 3-2 win. 

Ava Cameron turned in 20 kills on a .486 attack percentage and six blocks, while Raine Patterson blasted 16 kills with an .800 attack percentage and posted three blocks. Domineshia Jones passed a match high 23 assists and led the back row with 16 digs. Kelis Conley racked up 10 assists. Zoey Sales added 11 digs, and Shelby Morris posted 10 digs. 

Stillman won the opening set 25-21 with a three-point run to end the game, capped by a kill from Patterson. 

The Tigers briefly led in the second game, 3-2, and aside from an 8-8 tie following another kill from Patterson, Stillman fell behind and did not bounce back in a 25-16 set two loss. 

Stillman maintained a lead late into the third set after a kill by Brianna Moore moved the score to 15-12. However, the Golden Bears posted six straight points to take an 18-15 lead. Miles went on to capture the third set 25-18. 

Stillman College returns to action against Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference opponent Wilberforce (Ohio) on Friday, Sept. 19, at 5 p.m.