OWINGS MILLS, Md.– That the match went five should surprise no one. For the fifth time in the last five meetings, Eastern University Women's Volleyball earned a five-set win over the Stevenson University Mustangs. After dropping the opening two sets, the Eagles (17-3, 5-0) hit .233 over the final three sets and came up with big points in big moments to grab the biggest league win of the year. Hannah Pringle delivered a career-best 27 kills, and Grace Casagrande had a season-best 34 digs in the win.

With the two teams meeting in each of the last two MAC Commonwealth Championship games, this evening's match was highlighted on both team's schedules. With both teams winning their first four league matches, tonight's contest  again looked like it would determine the top seed in the league.

The Eagles trailed 8-5 when the two sides switched ends in the fifth set. Lexi Couch delivered a kill for a sideout and a second big swing to pull the Eagles to within a point with Grace Cooper serving. Cooper served an ace to give the Eagles an edge and Viviana Fragoso served two points for an 11-9 lead. Logan Martin delivered a huge solo block for 10-9 and dominated the net for the bulk of the next point. After Martin sent back ball-after-ball, Pringle put away the kill for the critical two-point lead. The teams traded sideouts to 12-11 before the Mustangs scored with their libero serving to tie the match at 12-12. Pringle delivered her 27th kill of the match for a 13-12 lead, and Elle Jiron-Bujanda served the final two points for the match.

In the decisive fifth set, the Eagles hit .261 and refused to let the ball hit the floor. Jiron-Bujanda had four digs and the Eagles had 14 while holding the Mustangs to .088 hitting.

After dropping the opening set 25-21, the Eagles had three set points in the second. The Eagles led 24-21, but Stevenson scored three-straight points to tie the set. Jailene Lugo and Martin combined on a block to give the Eagles another set point at 25-24 with both teams out of substitutions. The Mustangs (18-6, 4-1) brought their partisan home crowd to its feet with a pair of blocks and a service ace for a 2-0 lead.

After connecting for just one kill in the opening set, Pringle had nine kills in the second.

Pringle dominated the third set. She pounded out 12 kills on 26 swings and the Eagles hit .273 as a team. Though the Eagles led 14-9 midway through the third set, the Mustangs rallied.Eastern never trailed in the third, but they saw their lead shrink to a single point at 21-20 and again at 24-23. Pringle delivered the final kill of the third set to extend the match. The Mustangs hit .289 in the third, but the Eastern defensive specialists kept points alive and Pringle ended them.

The fourth was the only lopsided set of the match. Again, the Eagles never trailed. Bridgette Kelly and Cooper served the Eagles to an 18-5 lead. The Mustangs picked up four points on serve to close the gap to 18-10, but the Eagles were able to sideout their way to a 25-16 win. Casagrande had 11 digs, and the Eagles picked up 24 to limit the Mustangs to a .000 hitting percentage. Couch and Martin each had a pair of blocks in the fourth.

Lugo and Martin joined Pringle in double-digit Kills. Martin had 11 kills and five blocks, and Lugo had 12 kills and four blocks. Couch posted a career-high nine kills. Jiron-Bujanda recorded a season-high 50 assists and added 13 digs. Fragoso and Cooper each had 15 digs, and Trinity Gruber had nine.

"We stayed focused and made plays defensively and offensively," Head Coach Mark Birtwistle said after the match.  "Lexi was big coming in with attacking and a bigger block. Hannah started slowly and then really came on through the match. Logan was really effective late in the match as a defensive presence at the net and as an attacking option. Trin and Casa and Vic were all excellent."

The Eagles will host Hood College on Tuesday. With a win in that match or the MAC Commonwealth finale at Alvernia, the Eagles will secure the top seed in the league championships.