SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Every set was decided by three points or fewer as Springfield College eked out a four-set victory over the Amherst College volleyball team in a thrilling non-conference match between the two Western Massachusetts rivals at Blake Arena.

The Pride posted a 23-25, 25-22, 25-22, 27-25 victory to improve to 14-4 with their sixth straight win while the Mammoths fell to 9-5 on the season.

The Mammoths are back in action on Saturday (Oct. 15), hosting Tufts for a NESCAC clash at 2 p.m. in LeFrak Gymnasium.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:

* Neither team led by more than two points in the first set until the Pride won four straight points to turn a 12-11 deficit into a 15-12 lead, but the Mammoths responded with three straight points to tie the match at 15-15. From there, the teams remained within two points of each other for the rest of the set. The match was tied at 22-22 when the Mammoths scored back-to-back points on kills from seniors Sam Underwood and Jacqueline Kortekaas. After Springfield scored to get back within one, Underwood came up with the kill on set point to give the Mammoths the first set.

* Neither team led by more than three points at any time in the second set. After the Pride opened with the first three points of the set, the Mammoths quickly tied the set at 4-4 and once again the two teams stayed within two points of each other until a kill from first-year Charlotte Rasmussen put the Mammoths up, 19-16. Springfield scored the final five points of the set for a 25-22 victory.

* The Mammoths jumped out to the biggest lead of the match to open the third set, taking a 9-2 lead on the strength of seven straight points while Kortekaas was serving, but the Pride won eight of the next nine points to tie the set at 10-10. A seven-point run late in the set put Springfield up, 22-17. The Mammoths score four straight to get back within one, but Springfield closed the set out for another 25-22 win.

* Amherst opened with a 4-0 lead in the fourth set and stayed on top until the final points, though the Pride stayed close and never trailed by more than five. An ace from Springfield libero Ally Townsend tied the match at 24-24. After a kill from senior Caroline Tilton tied the match at 25-25, the Pride scored the final two points to take the fourth set by a 27-25 margin and close out the match.

BY THE NUMBERS:

* Underwood led the Mammoths with 13 kills and also contributed 15 digs and a career-high 5 blocks for a career-high 16.5 points.

* Sophomore libero Lizzie Papalia led Amherst with 17 digs and matched her career high with 3 aces.

* Junior setter Carly Cooper recorded 32 assists for the Mammoths.

* Springfield sophomore Riley Donahue led the Pride with 19 kills and was involved in 6 total blocks.