NEWBURGH, NY – Leading 12-7 in the fifth and deciding set, it looked like the Mount Saint Mary College women's volleyball was on their way to a victory in the Skyline Conference quarterfinals. But Bard, led by freshman Rachel Van Horn (Lawrence, Kan.), rallied furiously and took the set, 15-13, and the match, 3-2. The Blue Knights close their season at 12-18 while Bard improves to 12-8 overall and moves on to the semifinals.

Trailing 12-7 in the fifth set, Van Horn hit a bomb down the line that went for a clean kill and made the score 12-8. She then rattled off four consecutive points on her serve to tie the set at 12. After two consecutive side-outs that made it 13-13, Bard sophomore Blaire Moldenhauer (Albany, Mo.) served two consecutive points to give the Raptors a thrilling come-from-behind victory.

The Mount dominated the first set, taking it 25-8, but the Raptors responded to take the second set, 25-23. The Blue Knights took a two set to one lead by winning the third, 25-20, but the Raptors had the answer once again, taking the fourth, 25-22.

Mount Saint Mary freshman Courtney Kenney (Hicksville, N.Y.) led the way with 20 kills and 13 digs. Freshman Teresa Sorrentino (Bellerose, N.Y.) also had a nice match, racking up 11 kills and 16 digs. Freshman Heather Schaeffer (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) contributed a team-high 24 digs.

Bard will take on Sage in the conference semifinals this Saturday at 11:00 a.m. in Troy, N.Y.