LANGSTON, Okla. — The Hesston College volleyball team battled to a five-set road victory over Langston University Tuesday night, defeating the Lions 15-25, 25-21, 25-19, 10-25, 15-13. The win moved the Larks to 5-5 on the season. 

After dropping the opening set 25-15, Hesston responded with a much stronger offensive performance in the second. The Larks recorded 13 kills and hit .235 to even the match with a 25-21 victory. 

Hesston continued to build momentum in the third set, putting together its most efficient offensive performance of the night. The Larks committed just five errors on 23 attempts while recording 12 kills and hitting .304. Hesston took the set 25-19 to move ahead 2-1 in the match. 

Langston answered in the fourth, holding Hesston to three kills and taking the set 25-10 to force a decisive fifth. The Larks bounced back in the final set, recording seven kills with only two errors and hitting .278. Hesston edged Langston 15-13 to secure the five-set victory. 

Kennedie Esparza led the Larks offensively with 13 kills, seven digs, three block assists and a solo block. Lydia Foster and Jaycee Ray each added nine kills. Ray hit .333 and contributed three solo blocks and two block assists, while Foster hit .304 with two solo blocks and four block assists. 

Rebekah Blackmer directed the offense with a team-high 23 assists, while Sarahi Paez led the Larks with 13 digs. Hesston finished with 41 kills, six service aces, six solo blocks and 14 block assists. 

The Larks will return to action Saturday, Sept. 19 at the Spurgeon Triangular, facing Emmaus University at 1 p.m. before taking on Spurgeon College at 3 p.m.