Box Score FT. PIERCE, Fla. – No. 15 Polk State Volleyball was pushed to the brink on the road on Wednesday night. Indian River State College rallied from an 2-0 deficit to push the match to a decisive fifth set, which the Eagles won 15-13 to secure the match.
 
With the win, the Eagles (12-8, 8-5 Citrus) still sit at fourth in the conference standings, while the Pioneers (7-13, 1-11 Citrus) were officially eliminated from postseason contention.
 
Polk State looked poised to make quick work of Indian River with a 25-13 win in set one and 25-14 decision in the second set to take the commanding 2-0 advantage. Sophomore outside hitter Keionna Mackey paced the Eagles well early on, totaling nine kills throughout the first two sets, including a six-kill first set in which she hit .750 with no attack errors.
 
The Eagles struggled to put the match away in the third set, committing eight attack errors in the session — more than they had during the first two sets combined. The Pioneers took the third set, 25-17.
 
Polk cleaned things up in the fourth set, hitting .294 as a unit. However, the Eagles came up short in a back-and-forth affair 25-22 to see match evened 2-2.
 
With the match on the line, the Eagles stood tall in the decisive fifth set, edging the Pioneers 15-13. Mackey led Polk with three kills in the final session. Sophomore captain Madi O'Sullivan recorded two crucial service aces during the fifth set to help Polk clinch the match.
 
O'Sullivan led the Eagles with 35 assists on the night, while fellow captain Irene Mostardini totaled a team-best 19 digs.
 
Polk State concludes the regular season on Saturday afternoon in Tampa vs. Hillsborough Community College. Match time is set for 2 p.m.