Carli Kolbe posted 26 kills and had a hand in winning 29 points as Sam Houston rallied for a five-set victory over Stephen F. Austin Wednesday night at Johnson Coliseum.

Kolbe was one of three Bearkats to post double figure kills as Sam Houston handed the Lumberjacks a 21-25 25-23 24-26 26-24 15-13 loss. Haley Neilser added 13 kills and Kim Black totaled 12. Black also led the Kat front line participating in eight of the team's 14 blocks.

Arielle Darron and Kelsey Owens each produced 14 kills for Stephen F. Austin.

With the victory Sam Houston upped its record to 8-12 for the year and 2-3 in Southland Conference action. Stephen F. Austin dropped to 8-12 for the season and 1-4 in league action.

The victory was the third straight for Sam Houston in the Bearkats' long volleyball series. Each of the past three years the Jacks and the Kats have gone five sets.

The match was a roller coaster affair with 32 ties and 11 lead changes throughout the five sets.

Sam Houston produced 64 kills to 57 for the Jacks. Both teams were credited with 29 attack errors.

In the fifth set, Sam Houston jumped out to a 3-0 lead and was up 9-7 before SFA stormed back to tie the set at 10-all. The Jacks took a 13-11 lead on a kill by Owens.

Sam Houston took the next three points and the match as Kolbi made a kill then Lauren McDaniel and Owens made back-to-back errors for SFA.

Kym Loving totaled 56 assists as the Bearkats' setter. Kaylee Hawkins led SHSU with 33 digs. Lauren Bohlen added seven kills and Kelli Stewart was credited with five.

Sam Houston State continues its home stand Saturday afternoon when the Bearkats play host to Nicholls in a 2 p.m. match at Johnson Coliseum.