[RALEIGH] - The Shaw volleyball team took extra sets - and extra points - but defeated Johnson C. Smith 3-2 before a raucous crowd at C. C. Spaulding Gymnasium Thursday night.

The match was give and take from the very start, and included a comeback in the fift set to clinch the victory.

The Lady Bears dropped the first set 25-18 - the most lopsided game of the evening - but battled back to take the second set 25-23.

Johnson C. Smith took the third set 25-22 and the Lady Bears claimed the fourth 25-21.

In the fifth and deciding set - played to 15 points - the Lady Golden Bulls served for game and match at 14-13, but Shaw won the point.  The two exchanged points with neither able to secure the win, until the Lady Bears built the two-point lead needed to win at 18-16.

A number of Lady Bears had season highs in the game, including Crystal Gordon who had 25 kills, Cortnee Kelly who dished out 34 assists and Michelle Oliver who collected 28 digs.

The Lady Bears travel to Mount Olive Friday and Saturday for the Mount Olive College Volleyball Classic where they will face Mount Olive, Belmont Abbey and Virginia Union over the two-day event.

Photos:  Crystal Gordon (left) had a season high 25 kills and Michelle Oliver (right) had a season high 28 digs in the marathon match.