Wheaton, Ill. – The Wheaton volleyball closed out the inaugural Marilyn Scribner Invitational on Saturday with the tournament's most dramatic match in the event's final contest. Dominican University out-lasted the Thunder, 3-2. The Stars won the first two sets 25-19 and 25-18. Wheaton battled in each of the next two sets, winning by identical scores of 29-27. The Stars closed out the match with a 15-10 victory in the decisive fifth set.

Dominican posted a 3-0 record this weekend to improve to 8-2 on the season. Saturday's loss snapped Wheaton's win streak at seven as the Thunder now hold a 7-2 record in 2019. Wheaton was 2-1 at this weekend's event.

Colleen Smith led (PICTURED LEFT) the Thunder with 12 kills in the match and added 11 digs. Audrey Gerze registered 11 kills, with three service aces and 19 digs. Ellie Brown had nine kills with a team-high six total blocks. Freshman Emma Sweatman added six kills for the hosts. Senior Alecia Funk distributed 24 assists and Marlee Anderson distributed 15. Freshman Allie High led the Thunder with 26 digs and Funk added 14. Deborah Smith contributed five total blocks and Kaylee Byerly had four. Colleen Smith and Brown each earned a spot on the all-tournament team for this weekend's event.

Dominican was impressive in winning the first two sets 25-19 and 25-18. The Stars continued to play well through much of the third set as DU led 24-20 and served for match point. Wheaton dramatically responded with four-consecutive points to tie the match at 24-24 as the pro-Thunder crowd began to rally behind the hosts. A kill by Brown started the run and was followed by an ace for Gerze. Dominican served three times for match point after the Thunder run. Wheaton responded by scoring three of the final four points in the set to cut the Stars' lead in the match to 2-1.

Wheaton led through much of the fourth set, with a six-point advantage at 21-15 marking the largest advantage for the hosts. Dominican gradually fought back to tie the match at 23-23. An Audrey Gerze kill setup a set point at 24-23 for the Thunder, but Dominican tied it up at 24-24. Wheaton took a 25-24 lead and served for another set point, but the Stars again tied the match at 25-25. Wheaton took a 26-25 lead, but the guests tied the set at 26-26. Emma Sweatman's kill gave the Thunder a 27-26 lead and the opportunity to serve for set point. Dominican again responded with a point to tie the set at 27-27. Wheaton responded by winning the next two points to win the set 29-29 and tie the match score at 2-2.

The decisive fifth set was tied at 4-4 when the Stars rallied with four-consecutive points to give Dominican an 8-4 lead. The run proved critical as Wheaton could get no closer than a two-point deficit in the set at 10-8. Dominican won the set 15-10.

Wheaton hosts North Park on Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. in a conference match against the Vikings.