ASHLAND, Ohio — The Northern Michigan volleyball team fell to Ashland in five sets Saturday afternoon in the final game of its Ohio road trip.

"I'm proud of how the team competed," head coach Dominic Yoder said. "We left everything on the floor and fell just short of pulling it out."

The Wildcats pulled out a 25-23 victory in the first set. After the teams were tied 15 times, Ashland built a slim 23-21 lead. But Northern Michigan won the next four points to take a 1-0 lead in the match.

Ashland took the second set, using a late 14-6 run to down the Wildcats by a 25-17 margin. The Eagles then took a 2-1 lead in the match by winning the third set in extra points, 28-26.

Northern Michigan forced the fifth set by rolling to a 25-15 victory in the fourth set. The Wildcats used a 16-5 run to build an 18-7 lead. While Ashland won five of the next seven points, Northern Michigan took five of the next eight to tie the match at two apiece.

The Wildcats found themselves in a 13-4 hole early in the fifth set. Northern Michigan regrouped, winning the next three points. But the Eagles closed them out, taking the set, 15-7.

Bridget Bussell led Northern Michigan with 15 kills while Kayla Chosa posted 14 kills and a .462 hitting percentage. Jami Hogeboom dished out 47 assists while Megan Dahl recorded 22 digs.

"Bridget and Kayla led us offensively," Yoder said. "Jami again had a very good strategy while Dahl and Guntin did a nice job defensively."

After four weeks and 14 games on the road, the Wildcats return home to Vandament Arena for a match against rival Michigan Tech. The game is scheduled for Tuesday at 7 p.m.