FREMONT, Neb. – A terrific start transitioned into a heartbreaking finish for the College of Saint Mary volleyball team on Wednesday night.

After dominating the opening set, the Flames dropped the next two but had three set points in the fourth to take Midland University to a fifth. However, they were unable to win any of them, and the Warriors fought past CSM 14-25, 25-17, 25-22, 28-26 in Great Plains Athletic Conference play at the Wikert Event Center.

"I'm proud of my ladies for battling in this environment,'' CSM Coach Rick Pruett said. "We played such a strong first set, then had a lapse in the second, but sets three and four were great volleyball.''

Two close calls went against the Flames (13-13, 4-9 GPAC) late in the fourth set. At 21-all, Kaitlyn Busby made a diving, pancake save that led to a double block from Azaria Green and Kayla Petersen and an apparent point. But the officials got together and eventually called for a replay, and Midland (14-9, 10-3) won the point.

With CSM leading 25-24, the Flames celebrated Ashlyne Havermann's attack, believing it was a kill and they were heading to a fifth set. However, her attack was ruled to have hit the pin before the Midland block, tying the set at 25.

College of Saint Mary had another set point leading 26-25, but the Warriors won the final three points to close out the match.

Green and Liz Henrichson led the Flames with nine kills apiece, while Malory Dickson and Ashlyne Havermann added eight each, and older sister Madisyn Havermann pitched in seven.

"I was really proud of Ashlyne, who came off the bench and played really well,'' Pruett said.

Elen Pruett had 23 digs and Krissy Radicia added 17. Coach Pruett said both "did a great job defensively.''

The Flames return home on Oct. 30 to meet Mount Marty in GPAC action on Cancer Awareness Night.

*Midland won the JV match 25-20, 25-23.