NASHUA, N.H. – Southern Vermont College used a 15-2 deciding fifth-set victory to knock off Daniel Webster College 3-2 Monday night at Mario Vagge Gym in New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) men's volleyball action.

SVC and the Eagles are now both 6-2 in the league, but the Mountaineers' earlier-season victory over top-standing Endicott College gives them the current tie-breaker for second place. Southern Vt. is 10-7 overall on the season while Daniel Webster is 9-12.

The Mountaineers took the pivotal match to split the season series by taking the first game 25-23 before the Eagles won the next two, both by 25-20 margins. SVC won an extended fourth set 28-26 to push the contest to the final frame where the visitors notched zero hitting errors to DWC's eight.

The victory marks just the second time in 13 meetings between the two programs that SVC has come out on top.

SVC senior Anthony Barahona (Eagle Rock, Calif.) tied the match-high of 24 kills while adding 13 digs, a solo block and two block assists. Junior Keven Walley (Pico Rivera, Calif.) helped with another 17 digs to go with 14 kills, and junior Scott Fitzgerald (Fort Edward, N.Y.) chipped in with 16 digs and six kills. Senior setter Anthony Ayala (Pico Rivera, Calif.) assisted on 49 of the 51 Mountaineer kills while junior libero Florentino Escovedo (Fresno, Calif.) had a match-best 26 digs.

Eagle senior Joe Walz (E. Longmeadow, Mass.) matched Barahona's 24 kills while adding a team-best 22 digs, and sophomore Jose Vargas (Lawrence, Mass.) notched 13 kills and only one hitting error on 26 swings for a .462 hitting percentage. Sophomore setter Ariel Frias (Lawrence, Mass.) had 48 assists and 18 digs while sophomore Ryan Howdeshell (Fairbanks, Alaska) added 20 digs and 12 kills.

Southern Vt. now gears up for a 7 p.m. Thursday night contest at Endicott College, a match that could put SVC into first place and commanding position to win the NECC regular season title. The Eagles next visit Regis College on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. conference bout.