ROCHESTER, Mich. — After falling behind 2-0, the Green Bay volleyball team dominated sets three and four to force a fifth and decisive set on Tuesday evening at Oakland. Unfortunately, the Golden Grizzlies edged out a 16-14 win in the fifth to earn the sweep over the visiting Phoenix at the O'rena. 

Oakland (5-3) won the first two sets 25-20 and 25-21, before GB (3-7) cruised to easy 25-14 and 25-13 wins to force a fifth set. The dramatic fifth saw GB leading 13-10 and looking good to secure the split on the road, but the Golden Grizzlies won six of the next seven points to steal the 16-14 win. A pair of attacking errors and points via serve for Oakland proved to be the difference. GB had match point at 14-13, but Oakland rallied off three-straight to win. 

Alexandra Zakutney led all players with 28 kills, notching a double-double with 19 digs in the process, totaling 63 swings in the match. Tiffany Paalman also finished in double-figures with 13 kills, with Zoi Sherolli adding eight. The Phoenix defense had Annelise Sparks record 21 digs and Kristen Paulus record 20 digs with seven kills. Anna Eaton put in seven kills with eight blocks in the match, finishing third on the team win points for the night. 

Oakland finished with a .084 hitting percentage with GB finishing with a .204. Green Bay dominated in every statistical category, in large part to its dominance in sets three and four. 

The Golden Grizzlies were led by Jamie Walling with 11 kills and Patti Cessarini with 10 kills. 

Calli Gentry did the setting for the Phoenix, totaling a career-high 55 assists.

Green Bay returns home next week for its final two home matches of the 2021 spring season on Monday and Tuesday. GB will host Purdue Fort Wayne (7-3), which has won seven of its last eight matches after starting 0-2. 

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