JONESBORO, Ark. - Appalachian State University volleyball fell in a five-set heartbreaker on Friday night to Arkansas State, featuring sets with scores of 20-25, 23-25, 25-22, 27-25 and 12-15.

The Mountaineers (17-5, 7-5 Sun Belt) came back from a two-set deficit, but it would not be enough as Arkansas State (12-8, 7-4 SBC) closed out the match.

The Red Wolves got the edge to begin the first set, jumping out to a 5-0 lead over the Apps by finding four kills. A kill from Emily Corrigan would break ASU's run, but the Mountaineers would still continue to trail by at least four points until kills from Corrigan and Jacqui Spurgeon would put them within one and make the score 13-12.

Another point from Spurgeon would tie the set at 16 and a kill from Jess Keller would put the Apps over top the Red Wolves, 18-17.

The lead would not last long as Arkansas State found a service ace to make the score 21-20 and the Red Wolves found the last four points to take the first set, 25-20.

Appalachian's Cassidy Stephenson would begin the second set with a kill and the Mountaineers would maintain a lead until the Red Wolves would tie the score at seven.

The Apps would find their second lead until Arkansas State found a kill to pull ahead 18-17. From there Arkansas State would seem in control of the set, scoring four of the next five points.

Keller found two kills to break the ASU run and help App State trail by only two with a score of 22-20, but Arkansas State would close it out again, taking the second set, 25-23.

The beginning of the third set featured four tied scores until Appalachian scored four-straight points off Arkansas State errors to take the lead, 9-5.

The Apps would find several kills to help them lead by as much as eight points, but the Red Wolves began to close the lead, going on a 5-1 run to trail by only four points with a score of 22-18. Keller would come through for Appalachian by finding three kills, leading the Mountaineers to a 25-22 win in the third set.

The Mountaineers jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the fourth set, but both teams would struggle to maintain a lead as the score was tied four different times.

With the score tied at 10, Arkansas State pulled ahead, scoring four of the next six points to take a 15-12 lead. The Apps would find points, including a kill from Corrigan to quickly tie the set again, making the score 15-15, but Appalachian would then commit two errors, letting Arkansas State take another lead.

Kills from Lauren Gray, Keller and Corrigan would propel Appalachian forward to a 20-20 tie with the Red Wolves, but ASU would then respond with two points of their own to lead 22-20. Appalachian would not go away, finding two kills to tie the score at 22, and then pulling ahead, 24-22. 

Appalachian would not take the fourth yet, as the Red Wolves quickly tied the score at 25. From there the Apps would find kills from Keller and Gray to take the fourth set, 27-25 and tie the match 2-2.

The fifth set began with four tied scores until the Red Wolves would find a kill to help them to a 9-7 lead. The lead would not last long as the Mountaineers battled back, tying the score at 11. From there Arkansas State would go on a 5-1 run, scoring the match point to take the fourth 15-12 and win the match 3-2.

Corrigan recorded a match-high 26 kills in the loss, while Keller followed with a career-high of 24 kills.

Paige Brown had another successful match for the Apps, ending the night with 60 assists. Meghan Mahoney led with 21 digs in the match.

Sarah Kemp and Drew Jones led the way for the Red Wolves, finding 21 and 20 kills, respectively.

The Mountaineers hit .230 in the loss, while Arkansas State recorded a .258 hitting percentage. 

Appalachian will travel to UALR tomorrow to take on the Trojans at 8 p.m.