ABILENE, Texas — It came down to the wire.

In a deciding fifth set, the Sul Ross State volleyball team broke a 10-10 tie with a 5-1 run that was capped off by a game-winning kill from Cassandra Espinoza.

The Lobos triumphed over the McMurry War Hawks, 25-22, 13-25, 26-24, 13-25, 15-11, on Friday night at Kimbrell Arena.

>> HOW IT HAPPENED:

The first set had four different lead changes.

Sul Ross State used an 8-2 run to take a 17-11 lead. Tatyana Colon had two clutch service aces to highlight the run.

The Lobos increased their lead to 20-13 after they took advantage of two McMurry errors and a service ace by Brylee Sweeten.

Using a 5-0 run, the War Hawks crept back into the game, trailing by one point.

After an attacking error by McMurry, Daniella Garcia solidified the set with a kill.

The tables turned in the second set.

McMurry used a 7-0 run to lead 12-7 and later used a 6-0 run to increase the lead to nine.

The War Hawks closed out the set on a 5-0 run to even up the match.

To begin the third set, Sul Ross State led early, 4-1. Daniella Garcia and Loren Garcia had two kills during the 4-0 run.

McMurry then rallied back using a 5-0 run late in the game. The War Hawks were one point away from taking the set until the Lobos fought back to take the 2-1 lead in the match.

It was a much different scenario in the fourth set.

The War Hawks used a pair of 4-0 runs in the fourth set to lead by 10 points to pull away and eventually force the fifth game.

Six different lead changes highlighted the final set.

Sul Ross State was up by four points before McMurry went on a 4-0 run to tie the game.

A bad set by the War Hawks and an attacking error helped fuel a rally for the Lobos.

Sarah Chavez and Espinoza tallied the final two kills for Sul Ross State.

>> RECORDS: Sul Ross State (3-5); McMurry (1-8)

>> FRIENDLY REMINDER:

The Lobos are ineligible for both the American Southwest Conference and NCAA championships due to the reclassifying to NCAA Division II.

Games against conference opponents will not count this season.

>> GAME NOTES:

• Espinoza led the way with 17 kills and 12 digs.
• Daniella Garcia finished with 16 kills and one blocked shot. She now leads the Lobos with 75 kills.
• Chavez added with eight kills.
• Colon tallied two service aces, five assists and 17 digs.
• Sweeten had 17 assists, two service aces and eight digs.
• Eliana Mata tallied a team-high 26 assists while she also recorded 12 digs.
• Caitlyn Pena added to the defensive effort with 11 digs.
• Colon leads the Lobos with 10 service aces and 106 digs.
• Mata has now tallied a team-high 127 assists.
• The Lobos defeated McMurry for the first time since Sept. 11, 2021. McMurry had won the last three meetings.

>> UP NEXT: Sul Ross State takes on Hardin-Simmons at 1 p.m. CST on Saturday, Sept. 16 in Abilene, Texas.