For the third match in a row, Sam Houston volleyball went five sets, but the Bearkats were the winners Saturday in Natchitoches, La., in a 20-25 25-17 25-23 20-25 15-9 victory over Northwestern State.

Deveney Wells-Gibson led the SHSU women with 22 kills. Carling Urben totaled 12 kills and Jordyn Vaughn added 10.

Claire Kilpatrick led the Kat defense with 18 digs. Brooke White posted 13. Michelle Griffith assisted on 56 of Sam Houston's 62 kills.

Northwestern State broke a 12-12 tie with a 4-0 run to jump out in front in the first set. The Kats never came closer than four the rest of the way as the Demons won the opening stanza.

Sam Houston bounced back, jumping out to a 4-1 in the second period and never trailing on the way to a 25-17 score that evened the match at a set apiece.

Trailing 17-14 in the third, the Bearkats hit the gas pedal take 11 of the next 19 points and earn a 25-23 set win. But Northwestern State bounced back to even the contest with a 25-20 win in the fourth.

The Bearkats never trailed in the final set, going up 6-2. Northwestern State cut the lead to 11-7 but Sam Houston won four of the final 16 points to ice the victory.

Sam Houston State returns to Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum as the Bearkats play host to Houston Baptist Thursday night.