FOND du LAC, Wis. - Marian University delivered the Concordia University Wisconsin volleyball team a painful five-set match defeat (25-20, 25-13, 18-25, 23-25, 15-10) in Northern Athletics Conference play on Thursday night at Sadoff Gymnasium.

The Sabres jumped out to an early 2-0 set lead before the Falcons fought back to tie the match and force the fifth and deciding frame. CUW led 6-3 in the final set, but MU's (2-9, 2-0 NAC) 10 kills and .474 attacking percentage earned it the league victory.

CUW (1-8, 1-1 NAC) was led by senior Amanda Wilke's (Oak Creek, Wis.) double-double - 11 kills and 13 digs - but 10 attack errors lowered her attacking percentage to .027. Junior Amanda Stahmann (Van Dyne, Wis.) smashed 10 kills, while sophomore Ashley Faber (Kewaskum, Wis.) and senior Amy Gray (Urbana, Ill.) combined to assist on 31 kills. Senior Brittany Deinlein (New Berlin, Wis.) added 12 digs and nine kills.

The Falcons held with the Sabres in the early portions of the first set, but seven attacking errors and three receiving errors proved to be their downfall as MU earned a 25-20 opening frame win.

CUW jumped out to an early 5-4 lead in game two, but MU responded with a 13-2 run to go in front 17-7. The Falcons were unable to fight back because of six attacking errors and seven receiving errors, allowing the Sabres to claim the set 25-13 and take a 2-0 set lead in the match.

With their backs against the wall the Falcons gathered their composure and jumped all over the Sabres in the third frame. CUW built a 16-8 lead behind three Hannah Griffiths (freshman, Antigo, Wis.) kills and five MU attack errors. A .320 attacking percentage and five blocks led Joe Cawley's team to a 25-18 set win.

The fourth frame saw both squads answer each other with mini runs. There were nine scoring ties and four lead changes in the set, but the Falcons received a kill from Griffiths and a double block by freshman Gabrielle Van Beaver (Green Bay, Wis.) and sophomore Lauren Dumke (Wauwatosa, Wis.) to win the final two points and frame 25-23.

MU trailed 6-3 in the decisive 5th set, before rattling off a 7-1 run that spelled eventual defeat for Concordia.

CUW returns to action on Friday and Saturday when it travels to the UW-Oshkosh Invitational. The Falcons will play UW-O at 3:30 p.m., before competing against Carroll University at 5:30 p.m. Saturday's opponents will be decided based on Friday's pool results.