Pine Bluff, ARK - The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff volleyball team rallied back over the final three sets on Friday night as the Lady Lions came back in five sets to defeat Southern University Lady Jaguars, picking up their first Southwestern Athletic Conference victory of the season.

The Lady Lions took the contest 24-26, 20-25, 25-17, 25-22, 15-13 as UAPB played a complete game to claim the win.

After the Lady Jaguars took a 2-0 lead into the intermission, the Lady Lions came out of the break a completely different squad. UAPB had to fight its way back early in the third as Southern got out to an early 3-1 lead.  A kill from Taylor Burrall pulled UAPB back within one at 3-2, but went back ahead on a 4-run 6-3.  Southern would tie the game at 9-9, before UAPB went on a 4-0 run out of the timeout as a kill by Kendalle Howard gave UAPB a 13-9 lead, to eventually take the third set 25-17.

With the game tied at 15-15, UAPB raced out to a 5-run lead 20-15 lead in the fourth, needing a win to keep the match alive.  Southern would get as two, but the Lady Lions answered with three straight points to take the lead. UAPB would never relinquish the lead in the set, but Southern continued to pull within two, but with UAPB leading 24-22, UAPB got a kill from Burrall to clinch the set and force a pivotal fifth.

There was never any doubt that the aggressor was in the fifth set as UAPB jumped out to a 2-0 lead.  UAPB led 9-7 early in the set and continued to lead, when Southern got an attack error by Taylor Burrall to pull within 9-8 and scored five unanswered points.  Little did the Lady Jaguars know at the time that it would be the end of their comeback of the evening, after UAPB scored the last four points to take a 15-13 win.

Britney Sahlmann led the offense with 42 assists, while adding five kills, nine digs and two blocks.  Kendalle Howard was also impressive; she had six key blocks, followed by Lauren Corby with four.  Kendalle Howard led the way for UAPB with 12 kills, she was one of three players in double figures in kills as Taylor Burrall with 11 and while Taleah Ross had 10 kills.

UAPB will finally be at home for game two of a two game stretch for the second time on Saturday evening when it welcomes Alcorn St at the H.O. Clemmons Arena.  The match is set for 6:30 pm.