ROCKY MOUNT, N.C  - Mary Baldwin dropped a tough five-set match Tuesday evening at N.C. Wesleyan, losing in the deciding fifth set, 15-8.

After losing the first two sets 25-18 and 25-13, the Fighting Squirrels battled back to even the match, winning the third set 25-22 and the fourth set 25-20.

The third set was tied at 21-21 before two N.C. Wesleyan attack errors sandwiched around a kill by MBU's Savannah Figueroa, put the Squirrels ahead 24-21. After a point by the Bishops, Sydney Clarke ended the set with a kill off an assist by Leah Sherrill for the final 25-22 margin.

Mary Baldwin jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the fourth set and never trailed. Soleil Rios Rolon served four aces and Rachel Christian added a kill to spark the early MBU surge.

A service ace by Figueroa put MBU up 5-3 early in the fifth and deciding set, but the home team surged ahead 8-6. An attack error by the Bishops had MBU within a point, 8-7, but the hosts closed the set with an 8-1 run to clinch the match 15-8.

Christian led the Squirrels with 11 kills and Sherrill added nine. Emily Penny topped the team in assists with 19 and Sherrill finished with 16. Rolon contributed 19 digs and five service aces. Figueroa chipped in with 10 digs.

Mary Baldwin will close out its regular season Saturday with a road trip to Greensboro, N.C., for matches against Greensboro College and William Peace University.