Dixie State opened its 2015 home schedule on a winning note in a five-set thriller vs. Notre Dame de Namur, 25-17, 25-14, 22-25, 19-25, 9-15, Wednesday night at the DSU Student Activities Center. With the win DSU improved to 4-7 overall, 1-2 in Pacific West Conference play, while the Argonauts fell to 5-6, 1-1 in the conference.

DSU jumped out to a two-set lead in the match, started by a strong opening run to begin play as the Storm bolted out to a 17-5 lead in the opening stanza and coasted to an eight-point win. Dixie State kept the momentum going in set two, turning a 9-6 lead into an 18-9 advantage and wound up with an 11-point victory in the frame.

The Storm looked poised to complete the sweep in the third set as DSU held a commanding 20-16 lead, but NDNU had other ideas as the Argonauts outscored the Storm 9-2 to close out the set and extend the match. Notre Dame de Namur never trailed in the fourth set and led by as many as 10 points before settling for the five-point win to force a deciding fifth.

NDNU continued its strong play to open the final frame as the Argos jumped out to an 8-5 lead. DSU Head Coach Robyn Felder called a timeout, and whatever was said in the huddle worked as the Storm rallied to outscore the Argonauts 10-1 the rest of the way, including scoring the final eight points of the match to escape with the victory.

"We've talked about adversity a lot this year because we started out the season rough," Coach Felder said. "It showed a lot of heart for these girls to come back. We're just a confidence team. When we lose it, we lose it in all areas. We just have to work to be more consistent. We need the kids to step up and fill those spots consistently. Not just when we're winning."

Freshman outside hitter Taylor Duryea (Logan, Utah/Sky View HS) had a career-night in her home debut as she registered a career-best 21 kills to go with seven digs, four services aces and three total blocks. Junior Delayne Daniel (American Fork, Utah/Pleaseant Grove HS) recorded her fifth double-double in six matches with career-highs of 19 kills and 18 digs, and Makenzi Bird-Murphey (St. George, Utah/Snow Canyon HS) finished with 12 kills, seven digs and a team-high five total blocks. DSU hit .269 for the match and held NDNU to a .118 hitting percentage, thanks in large part to 10 total blocks.

Dixie State continues its season-long seven-match homestand on Homecoming Saturday as the Storm welcomes in Holy Names for a PacWest showdown at 12 noon.