MANCHESTER — Barbourville watched a two-set advantage disappear before regrouping when it mattered most to defeat Oneida Baptist Institute in a five-set thriller.
The Lady Tigers captured the deciding fifth set, 15-10, to secure the 3-2 victory and improve to 2-1 on the season.
Barbourville came out strong, dominating the opening set, 25-13, before taking a more competitive second set, 25-22, to move within one set of finishing off the match.
Oneida Baptist refused to go away.
The Lady Mountaineers responded with back-to-back 25-18 victories in the third and fourth sets, forcing a fifth set.
“We started out strong and got too comfortable, I think,” Barbourville coach Bry Strunk said. “But they rallied back and fought from being down to win the game. We had some good serving runs that helped us out.”
With the match on the line, Barbourville regained its early momentum and finished off OBI with a 15-10 victory in the fifth.
“OBI definitely gave us a run for our money,” Strunk said. “I’m just glad the girls were able to come back together and fight to win.”
