NORTHFIELD, Vt. - The Norwich University volleyball team hung strong with Colby-Sawyer College before falling just short in a five-set thriller (20-25, 25-19, 14-25, 25-20, 11-15) in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action in Andrews Hall on Friday evening.

Both teams set the tone for the night early, as the Cadets and Chargers exchanged leads and ties before Colby-Sawyer broke loose on a 15-5 spurt. The Cadets nearly valiantly rallied, whittling Colby-Sawyer's lead down to two on a Sam Lebruska (Lynnfield, Mass.) kill before the Chargers claimed set one.

Norwich took advantage of the tides in the second set, capitalizing on several errors by the Chargers. The Cadets enjoyed seven kills in the set, including one from Abby Kanaga (Apopka, Fla.) in the midst of a late 6-0 run to put the set out of reach.

Colby-Sawyer retook the edge in the third set, but the Cadets again thrived in the fourth set due to Charger miscues and clutch kills. Norwich erased a 14-all knot on a 5-0 run, keeping the Chargers at bay to force a fifth and final outing.

The Chargers found their footing early in the fifth, embarking on a 7-1 run that the Cadets would bring back down to two on a pair of occasions. Back-to-back kills by Colby-Sawyer, however, would seal the deal.

Lebruska led the team in kills with 12, while Kanaga and Lillie Ells (Centerville, Mass.) tallied seven apiece. Lebruska also owned the team-high in digs with 26, with Autumn Parkhurst (Parish, N.Y.) just behind with 20. Ava Nihill (Marshfield, Mass.) dished out a career-high 28 assists.

Norwich will step out of GNAC play and back to non-conference action for a Wednesday, Oct. 11 meeting at Vermont State University Castleton at 6:00 p.m. The Cadets and Spartans met once earlier this year, when Castleton secured a 3-1 win in the final game of the Vermont Volleyball Classic on Sep. 2.