Willimantic, Conn. – For the third straight season, Clark University knocked off regional power Eastern Connecticut State in non-league volleyball action on Tuesday evening.

As was the case last season in Worcester, the Cougars took a thrilling five-set victory over the Warriors, who had won eight straight against the Scarlet and White prior to Clark's current three-game series winning streak.

In the decisive fifth set, the Cougars held off ECSU's comeback bid to improve to 2-3 overall, while the Warriors now sit at 1-1. Clark won by scores of 25-13, 23-25, 25-18, 22-25, 15-10.

Trailing 9-2 in the fifth set, Eastern pulled to within 11-8 on a kill from sophomore Adrianna Mihalek and two Clark attack errors, but could get no closer.

The Cougars never trailed after the opening points of the first set before the hosts rallied from a 20-13 deficit in the second set.

Eastern broke a tie to score the final two points on block assists from sophomores Kay Mullen and Ashley Adams and senior Allie Henry's set-ending service ace.

Clark also took control of the third set early on, never trailing and using a 5-1 run to build a 13-7 advantage. Eastern forced the fifth set with the close fourth-set victory. The Warriors took the lead for good, 20-19, on kills from Mullen and Adams, and Mullen and Mihalek contributed late kills to seal the victory.

Savannah Sanford (San Anselmo, Calif.) led all players in the match with a career-high 17 kills, freshman Marina Ramos (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) added nine and sophomore Courtney Pharr (Seattle, Wash.) chipped in with seven.

Mia Cattaneo (Santa Barbara, Calif.) continued her excellent play to begin the 2014 season, collecting a team-best 20 digs while Sanford added 17 and Ramos totaled a career-high 15.

The two headed setting monster of Pharr (21) and Tori Whitney (Sunderland, Mass.) (17) combined to dish out 38 helpers.

Clark will return to the hardwood for the 2014 Worcester City Tournament – a championship they won last season. Games are on Saturday, September 6 at WPI. The Cougars open up play against Becker College at 12:00 p.m.