UT Permian Basin volleyball held a 2-1 lead after three sets and looked poised to take the match victory in the fourth, but Western New Mexico roared back to tie the match at 2-2 and raced ahead to a large lead in the fifth set for a 25-22, 21-25, 25-15, 21-25, 10-15 win over the Falcons in a Monday night Lone Star Conference match.

The Mustangs (10-17, 6-12) turned an 18-15 Falcon lead in the fourth into a 22-18 lead behind seven straight points. The Falcons (12-15, 7-11) closed within three points at the end of the set on winners by Travana Matthews and Haleigh Robins, but an Erin Moss kill pushed the match to a fifth and final set.

Western New Mexico took over all the momentum in the 5th by taking an early 5-1 advantage on three kills and a block. 

UTPB was unable to get closer than three points as the Mustangs led by as many as eight points at 12-4, and the Mustangs took the win by converting their third match point on a kill by Sarah Campoli.

Western New Mexico hit slightly better in the match with 62 kills and 27 errors for a .178 hitting percentage, while the Falcons had 60 winners on 24 errors while hitting .177. The Falcons hit above .300 in each of their set victories but didn't hit higher than .128 in each of their three losses.

Skyler Friel led the Falcon attack with 16 kills on the night. Aquincia Strambler added 15 winners while Matthews had 13 kills. Kiera Granado had a match-high 28 assists, and Sarah Vasquez led all players in the match with 32 digs.

Bria Augustine led everyone in the contest on the night with 20 kills for Western New Mexico.

The Falcons close out the 2018 regular season at home this weekend, beginning with a Friday night match against Angelo State at 6 p.m.