OMAHA, Neb. – The College of Saint Mary volleyball team survived a big scare from Hastings College Wednesday.

The Flames, entering with an 11-match win streak, dropped the first two sets to the Broncos and things weren't sitting well with CSM Coach Rick Pruett. But the Flames battled back to win the third set, the fourth set and then the deciding fifth set.

College of Saint Mary won by scores of 18-25, 27-29, 25-14, 25-21 and 15-13.

It was the Great Plains Athletic Conference opener for the Flames, who are now 1-0 in conference play and 12-1 overall.

"We played a really poor first set with only five total kills," Pruett said. "We weren't being very aggressive and we didn't adjust to their tempo early either."

Hastings took advantage by posting a fairly quick win in the opening set to stun the crowd at the Lied Fitness Center.

"We got things figured out in the second set to change the momentum, but we couldn't maintain it and lost that set that we should have won," Pruett said. "I told them after that set that we needed to be more aggressive and attack, attack, attack."

And the Flames did just that. CSM posted its quickest win of the night in the third set and then got another much-needed win in the fourth set. The fifth set was a tough battle for both teams, but College of Saint Mary found a way to get the job done.

"I don't really know what to say about this team," Pruett said. "One word that describes them is heart. Grace Werner was great tonight after the opening set. She found another gear and really took over for us. Azaria Green was a blocking machine in the third, fourth and fifth sets. I was also really proud of our setters for making great decisions and keeping everyone involved. What a gutsy match-point setter dump by Miranda (Ring)."

Werner had a team-high 12 kills, while Lexie Langley finished with 10, Kamryn Willman and Green both added nine and Morgan Ramsey and Lauryn Willman each chipped in with eight. Lauren Anderson tossed up 27 assists, while Ring finished with 21. Five CSM players reached double digits in digs as Rachel Cushing led the way with 20, Langley had 16, Ring contributed 14, Anderson added 13 and Krissy Radicia finished with 10. Green paced CSM with eight block assists and Lauryn Willman chipped in with six.

"What an amazing match in an amazing atmosphere in the Lied Fitness Center," Pruett said.

The Flames are back in action Saturday at Doane University.

*In junior varsity action, CSM defeated Hastings 2-1 by scores of 30-32, 25-16 and 15-10.