Box Score It was the type of win that can serve a team well for a long time. Hamline's volleyball team stared down a two set deficit to rally past Gustavus Adolphus, 3-2, Oct. 3 before a roaring crowd at Hutton Arena. The stirring comeback lifted the Pipers, who had a season high nine service aces, to 11-3 overall and kept them just a game out of first place in the MIAC with a 3-1 standard.

There were  heroes aplenty in this win.

• Michelle Mattke (pictured, 16) had a dozen kills, 11 digs and four service aces -- including two big ones in the deciding set.  
• Vassi Prattas had a game high 23 assists and Amelia Jensen was close behind with 22.
• Miquel Green had 17 digs -- the third time in the last five matches she has been in double digits.
• Lynsey Reimer had a team high 21 digs to move within 27 of fourth place all-time in school history. She now has 1526 for her career, 27 behind Tara Ristau.
• Jena Meyer and Katie Ayres had 11 kills apiece.

Perhaps the most telling stat, however, was a team one. In the first two sets, Hamline committed 14 errors. In the last three, they committed just 11. 

As for details ...

The night started badly. The Pipers fell into an early hole and dropped the opening set, 11-25. The second game was better. After falling behind early, HU tied matters seven times. The last occasion was at 23-23. Still, GAC registered the next two points to take the set and a 2-0 edge. 

The visitors continued the pressure in the third, leading 16-11 when the Pipers began their surge. They used a solid .343 hitting percentage to take charge late and claim a 25-22 win. The momentum carried into the next set in the early going as the Pipers jumped out to a 9-3 advantage. The Gusties clawed back within two a couple of times but Hamline prevailed, 25-22.

That set up the grand finale. GAC grabbed an early 7-4 lead but HU came back to forge a 9-8 lead when Mattke unleashed a pair of service aces, HU added another point to make it 12-8. GAC inched back within two but a pair of Ayres' kills greased the path to victory by a 15-11 margin. Ironically, it was a year and a day from the last time the Pipers overcame an 0-2 deficit for a conference win. On October 2, 2013, Hamline did the same thing to Macalester at Hutton Arena winning the final set by ... 15-11.

The Pipers return to action October 8 at Macalester. They will host Augsburg at Hutton on October 10. Both matches begin at 7:00 p.m.