Trailing two sets to none, Lourdes pulled off its second consecutive five-set victory in as many nights on Monday evening, defeating Belmont Abbey 22-25, 17-25, 25-17, 25-17, 15-10 inside the Wheeler Center in Belmont, N.C.
 
The Gray Wolves hit just .115 and -.050 over the first two sets before rallying offensively, hitting .295 or better in each of the final three sets to earn the win. 
 
"This was a great challenge for our group," head coach Greg Reitz said afterwards.  "We had our backs against the wall and were being pushed around a bit, but we answered with some very solid play.  Our energy level was crucial to our success.  This team is resilient and showed how much they rely on each other.  This match meant more than just a win for us."
 
Belmont Abbey score five consecutive points in the opening set to push its lead to 20-13 on the way to the early advantage.  In set two, the Crusaders broke a 14-all tie with a 10-1 run to build the 2-0 lead in the match.
 
Lourdes never trailed in the third, racing out to a 7-2 lead.  After Belmont Abbey closed to within one, 12-11, the Gray Wolves scored six unanswered points to pull away.  Trailing 10-9 in the fourth, Lourdes responded with the next four points to take the lead in the set for good, evening the match.
 
Leading 9-8 in the final set, Lourdes scored the next four points to seize control, and complete the comeback.
 
Matheus Andrade (Coronel Fabriciano, Brazil/Alberto Giovanni H.S.) and Jeff Lam (Richmond, B.C./Hugh McRoberts H.S.) each had 16 kills for the Gray Wolves, as Lourdes finished the match hitting .212 as a team.  Andrade hit .480 individually.  Henrique Gehrke (Blumenau, Brazil/Escola Barao Do Rio Branco H.S.) handed out 37 assists.
 
Defensively, Andrade and Gehrke also had a team-high seven digs while Fred Miller (Phoenix, Ariz./Brophy College Prep H.S.) was involved in seven blocks.
 
Liam Maxwell led Belmont Abbey (8-6) with 18 kills while hitting .364.
 
Lourdes (14-2) has now won 10 consecutive matches and will return to the court on Tuesday night, traveling to Due West, S.C. to face Erskine.  The opening serve is set for 7 p.m. inside of Belk Arena.