BALTIMORE - After winning the first two sets, the UMBC volleyball team dropped the next two, before rallying to defeat New Hampshire, 3-2, Friday night at the RAC. With the win, the Retrievers improved to 10-7 (2-0 America East) on the season, while the Wildcats fell to 8-12 (0-3 AEC).

In the fifth and decisive set, the Retrievers, who hit .053 in the fourth, earned 10 kills and three service aces on their way to a 25-18, 25-23, 22-25, 18-25, 15-10 win.

"We got away from playing our game and let them stay in rhythm in the third and fourth sets," head coach Ian Blanchard said, "but we were able to adjust our serving and keep the pressure on the them in the fifth and that was the difference."

Sophomore Alyssa Lang (Richmond, Va./Deep Run) led all hitters with 21 kills, while earning 15 digs. Junior Sabrina Hoeks (Olympia, Wash./AG West Black Hills) hit an outstanding .692 with 10 kills and one error on 13 swings, while senior Ashley Oscars (Bakersfield, Calif./Liberty) earned a double-double with 15 kills and 13 digs.

After starting sophomore Allie Spaay (Kenosha, Wisc./Kenosha Tremper) at setter and senior Kira Giles (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada/Glenlawn) playing back row for the first four sets, Blanchard made the move to reverse their roles. Both earned double-doubles with Spaay earning 35 assists and 17 digs, while Giles had 15 assists and 14 digs.

"Allie did a really good job the first two sets, but after we lost our rhythm in the third and fourth, we made the switch," the coach said, "but she didn't let it get to her and did an excellent job of serving and digging in that fifth set."

For the match, the Retrievers outhit the Wildcats, .201-.168 and had 10 aces to UNH's six. Lindsay Fogarty led the Wildcats with 18 kills.

The Retrievers return to action next Friday when they play at Binghamton at 7 p.m.