BLOOMING PRAIRIE — In a match that saw both teams looked dominant at times, it came down the very last volley before the Rebels topped the Awesome Blossoms in Blooming Prairie Monday.

The Rebels (9-8-1 overall) survived a late onslaught by BP (6-10 overall) to win by scores of 18-25, 25-19, 14-25, 25-18, 18-16.

Southland sealed the win when Katie Barthel dropped a set for a kill to make it 17-16 and Jana Schammel and Jenna Juenger combined on a block kill to seal the match.

Barthel, a senior setter who had 31 assists, nine kills, 22 digs and two aces, said the Rebels found their boost at the right time.

“We can’t play when we’re down,” she said. “The only time we really come together as a team is when we’re energetic and hyper. We need to come out energetic every time.”

BP had led 14-9 in the fifth game after Trisha Roeker had served five straight points, including one ace, but Southland fought off six game-point serves by the Blossoms to survive.

Southland almost lost the fifth game 14-10, but Kelli Smith averted trouble when her second serve glanced off the top of the net for an ace. She then served the next three points to tie it up 14 apiece. Jessica Pitzen had two kills during Smith’s serving run.

“We just had to stay on top of our game and shake off all the things we screwed up on,” said Pitzen, who had 10 kills and two ace serves. “We shook off the other games and played our game that we’re supposed to play every time.”

BP’s Whitney Burt spiked down a kill to put BP up 15-14, but Jenna Juenger put down a point for Southland to tie it up. Burt, who had 15 kills, two blocks, and 12 digs, hammered down another kill to make it 16-15, but once again the Rebels responded.

“It’s tough and it stings a bit,” BP head coach Gina McLaughlin said. “There were games where we felt like we were in control and games were we were scrambling. The last one was pretty even and it’s frustrating because we didn’t finish it at the end.”

BP trailed the fourth game 21-17 when Barthel put up back-to-back kills and Jana Schammel served an ace to put Southland on its way to a fifth game.

Southland head coach Angie Smith was pleased with how her team responded while the pressure was on.

“Games one and three were pretty ugly and we were down late in game five,” Smith said. “We didn’t let it get to us and the girls worked hard for this win. They deserve it.”

Brandi Schammel had 13 kills for Southland, Jenna Schammel had four blocks, Juenger had six kills and two blocks, Smith had 11 digs, Sarah Nelson had 10 digs, five kills, and two blocks, and Haley Hoff had 12 digs.

Jordan Noble had 36 assists, two aces, six digs, one kill and one block for BP, Kristin Hagen had 11 kills, nine digs, three blocks and an ace, Yasmine Smith had five kills and five blocks, Roeker had six kills, three aces and 12 digs, Janelle Morem had 10 digs, three kills and one block, Marie Morem had four aces and four digs, and Erin Johnson had 13 digs.