STANDISH, Maine - The Norwich University volleyball team rebounded from a game one loss to Saint Joseph's College (14-25, 16-25, 24-26) with a nail-biting five-set victory over Anna Maria College (20-25, 25-19, 24-26, 27-25, 15-7) in the Cadets' Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) opener on Friday evening at the Alfond Center.

Against the Monks, Norwich fell victim to late-set runs by the Monks, trailing by just one, 13-12, in the first set before Saint Joseph's embarked on a 9-0 run to take control.  Likewise, the Monks erased a 15-all tie in the second set behind a 9-0 spurt to claim victory.

Fate favored the Cadets in the third set, as Norwich overcame a 20-16 hole behind five-straight points to take a lead over the Monks.  Lillie Ells (Centerville, Mass.) knotted things up at 24-24, but Saint Joseph's scooped up back-to-back points to seal the deal.

Sam Lebruska (Lynnfield, Mass.) led the Cadets with 10 kills, while Gina Caraccio (Churchville, Pa.) dished out 22 assists.

Norwich enjoyed consistent success over the AMCATS, especially after overcoming a loss in the first set.  The Cadets fought back from a 15-13 deficit behind kills from Leah Mathewson (North Chelmsford, Mass.) and Giovanna Fruci (Wrentham, Mass.) and a service ace from Lebruska to take control in set two, before Anna Maria exacted revenge in the third set.

A back-and-forth affair ensued in the fourth set, as neither team were separated by more than two points after the AMCATS clawed back from a 20-16 deficit to tie the contest at 21-all.  A service effort by the Cadets granted Anna Maria an opportunity at 25-25, but a bad set and an attack error by the AMCATS sent the contest into a fifth set.

The final set was all Norwich, as the Cadets rushed out on a 9-2 run and never looked back, finishing off Anna Maria on a dominant 5-0 run to claim their first GNAC win of the year.

Four Cadets rallied for double-digit kills, between 12 from Lebruska and Fruci and 10 from Mathewson and Ells.  Autumn Parkhurst (Parish, N.Y.) tallied 28 digs, while Caraccio handed out 40 assists.

Norwich will look to keep the momentum alive on Tuesday, September 19, when the Cadets travel to West Hartford, Conn. for a 6:00 p.m. duel with the University of Saint Joseph.