SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Great Plains Athletic Conference is arguably the toughest conference in NAIA volleyball.

With eight of the 12 GPAC schools being ranked in the Top 30 in the most recent Coaches' Poll, there's no easy night of conference play.

College of Saint Mary, ranked No. 18 in the country, learned that Friday night when the Flames had a tough battle with Briar Cliff University. The Chargers are winless in GPAC play, but still gave the Flames a run for their money Friday night.

CSM won the GPAC match 3-1 by scores of 25-16, 21-25, 25-20 and 25-22.

"Every road win in the GPAC is a good win," CSM Coach Rick Pruett said. "Even though we didn't play our best volleyball, we found a way to get the win. We got it done and that's what matters."

College of Saint Mary improves to 5-4 in the GPAC and 15-4 overall, while Briar Cliff drops to 0-8, 5-14.

"We played a good first set," Pruett said. "Offensively we were clicking but then we just couldn't stay consistent. Hats off to Briar Cliff – they played hard."

Lexie Langley (JR/Fremont, Neb.) led the Flames with 17 kills and 17 digs. Teammate Makenna Freeman (SR/Omaha, Neb.) added 14 kills and Kamryn Willman (SR/Grand Island, Neb.) tallied 13 kills. Setter Lauren Anderson (JR/Gretna, Neb.) compiled 48 assists, while libero Rachel Cushing (JR/Council Bluffs, Iowa) finished with 28 digs and Freeman ended with 16.

"Makenna and Kamryn had really good nights offensively," Pruett said.

The Flames are right back in action Saturday with a road contest at Morningside University. Junior varsity starts at 3:30 p.m. and varsity plays at 5 p.m.

*In junior varsity action Friday, the Flames beat Briar Cliff 25-13, 23-25 and 15-10.