GREENSBURG, Pa. - Pitt.-Greensburg gave the Franciscan volleyball team a scare, making the Lady Barons fight for a 17-25, 25-18, 20-25, 25-15 and 15-8 five-set win.

"First of all, you just have to play like you have nothing to lose," head coach Kelly Herrmann said. "Greensburg played a great match tonight and they played like they had nothing to lose. It was not like Greensburg did not play well. We really had to wrestle the match away from them."

Franciscan knew it was in for the long run when the Bobcats jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the first set, forcing Herrmann to take an early timeout. With 13-7 and 23-14 leads later in the set, Greensburg cruised to an easy first set victory.

"For our part, we were a little tense, a little uptight," Herrmann said. "We were playing poorly in the first game, just thinking too much. We were struggling and we were just talking through some things."

With senior libero Samantha Kelly leading the team defensively against some strong Bobcat attackers, the Lady Barons were able to compose themselves enough to win the second set. Kelly finished with a season-high 30 digs against the Bobcats.

"Sam just seems so composed and so confident," Herrmann said. "The entire team feels confident and calm every time they look at her."

After dropping the third set, Herrmann knew she needed to make some adjustments. With junior outside hitter Ellie Waldsmith out due to injury, the middle hitter position was lacking a little in offense despite playing strong defense, so Herrmann asked senior outside hitter Dani Link at the start of the fourth set if she play out of the middle.

Link played middle for her entire freshman year and was able to make the transition seamlessly, leading the team offensively in the fourth and fifth sets and finishing with 16 kills.

"Bringing Dani in just gave us some confidence in the middle," Herrmann said. "Dani is very composed. She knows when to hit, when to push. It was just kind of the shock that we needed."

Also leading the team offensively in the fourth and fifth sets was senior outside hitter Christina Lawrence, who finished with a team-high 17 kills.

"Everybody struggled in that first game, Christina included, but she really picked it up," Herrmann said. "There was one point in the fourth game where she was in serve receive, made the perfect pass, called for the ball, got the set and the kill. That's what you need your senior leaders to do."

Led to the win by all three seniors, the Lady Barons now move to 5-1 in the AMCC, tied for the top spot with Penn State Altoona and Penn State Behrend. Franciscan beat Altoona in straight sets earlier in the season while being set to play Behrend in the last game of the season.

However, the Lady Barons will first take the time to honor Link, Kelly and Lawrence on Senior Day, October 24 at 2 p.m., when they host Pitt.-Bradford for last home game of the year.

"We feel good," Herrmann said. "Bradford is a good team and we are getting there. Tonight just showed us we have a few more options than we thought we had or needed. Our seniors have been great all year long and I think they'll continue to step up and lead their team."