HELENA, Mont. - Five regulation sets simply weren't enough to decide Monday night's Frontier Conference clash in Helena, as (RV) Carroll needed extra points in two of their three set wins to outlast No. 24 Dakota State in a five set thriller at the PE Center.

The Fighting Saints (14-10, 9-7) battled back from adversity time-and-again to pick up a crucial late-season win over the Trojans (14-7, 10-6) as the chase for the top-eight spots in the Frontier Conference tightens with the postseason looming.

Dakota State came out and took the opening frame. Carroll had a late 20-18 advantage, as well as a 22-21 lead, but the Trojans found a way to get the win following several Carroll errors at the back-end of the frame, taking the set 27-25 in extra points.

The Saints were a different team beginning in the second set. They raced out to a 19-11 lead before watching it slowly fade away, with Dakota State battling all the way back to a 23-21 deficit. A pair of kills from Taysa Conger (Merino, Colo. / SR) were ultimately the difference, however, helping put the frame away 25-22.

Conger continued to impact the match in a big way in the third set, contributing three kills in a 7-0 run near the midpoint of the frame to help Carroll pull away. The senior also put an exclamation point on the set win with a kill to give Carroll a 2-1 lead on a 25-20 win.

Both teams made extended runs in the fourth frame. Carroll jumped out to an early lead, saw it slip away, and then fought to stretch it out to 19-16 late. A 9-3 run from the Trojans, however, would spoil Carroll's hope of a four set victory, as they forced a deciding fifth frame.

The Saints found themselves down at the midway point of the fifth, trailing 8-6. Four straight points, spurred by a pair of kills from Rachael Stacey (Helena, Mont. / SR) put the Saints back in the driver's seat. DSU responded with four of their own, serving set point at 14-12 with seemingly all the momentum. The Saints didn't waver, rattling off four of the next five points to win the marathon set 18-16, and the match 3-2.

Conger led the Saints with 16 kills, followed by McKaila Balcom (Pasco, Wash. / JR) with 15.

Jansyn Carrizales (Sunnyside, Wash. / JR) was outstanding, posting a season-high 32 assists, while Sidney Gulick (Kalispell, Mont. / SR) had a career-high 21 digs in the win.

Carroll will hit the road again later this week, taking on Valley City State and Mayville State on Friday and Saturday.