VALLEY CITY, N.D. - The week of October 20 will be remembered by a pair of five-set thrillers for the (RV) Carroll Volleyball team, as they outlasted Valley City State in five on Friday evening at Graichen Gymnasium for their second five set win of the week.

It wasn't always pretty, but the Fighting Saints (15-10, 10-7) found a way to gut out a five set win over the Vikings (9-12, 7-9) as they jostle for position in the upcoming Frontier Conference Championship next month in Helena.

After a good start to the opening frame, the Saints saw their opponents take control of the middle portion of the first set. The Vikings capitalized on several Carroll errors, taking the set 25-18 as the Saints would hit just .109.

Carroll leveled things up in the second set on the heels of a 9-2 run to finish the frame out, 25-18. A 10-1 run in the middle portion of the third frame helped propel them to a 25-20 win and put the pressure fully on the home team.

The Vikings responded in the fourth. Trailing 20-19 late, VCSU scored six of the final seven points of the frame to even things up at 2-2 and force a deciding fifth frame.

As was the case earlier this week, the fifth set wouldn't be decided in regulation. Carroll hit .267 in the fifth, finding a way to gut out a hard-fought win, 17-10, to take the match three sets to two.

McKaila Balcom (Pasco, Wash. / JR) tied for a game-high with 15 kills, while Taysa Conger (Merino, Colo. / SR) added 13 as well.

Jansyn Carrizales (Sunnyside, Wash. / JR) led Carroll with 25 assists, while Sofia Kimmel (Bozeman, Mont. / FR) tallied 26 digs in the win.

The Saints will turn around and take on Mayville State in a Saturday matinee tomorrow at 1 p.m., looking to solidify their spot in the Frontier Tournament.