Colorado College battled through a season's worth of adversity during its two Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference crossover matches on Friday; however, the second-ranked Tigers displayed a never-say-die attitude and pulled out a pair of thrilling victories.

CC trailed early in each of the first two sets against Southwestern University, but rallied each time en route to a 25-23, 25-22, 25-19 victory over the Pirates.

Southwestern raced to a 7-1 lead in the first set and played from in front until Colorado College took its first lead at 20-19 on a kill by freshman outside hitter Isabella Vasquez. The Tigers snapped a 22-22 tie with kills by senior middle hitter Myca Steffey-Bean and senior opposite hitter Aria Dudley, and then won the set on a Pirate serving error.

CC trailed 9-4 early in the second set, but utilized an 11-3 run to take a 15-12 lead. Southwestern battle back to level the score at 22-22, however this time the Tigers answered with kills from junior middle hitter Marguerite Spaethling, junior sett Lizzy Counts and an ace from junior outside hitter Haley Harris to close out the set.

After trailing during the opening stages of the third set, the Pirates forged a 13-13 tie on a kill by Lauren Crabtree. That proved to be as close as they would get. A 10-1 surge gave Colorado College a nine-point lead and Southwestern never got closer than five points before CC put the match away with a Dudley kill.

Spaethling and Vasquez led the Tigers with nine kills apiece, while Dudley added eight.

Steffey-Bean and Spaethling each had a hand in four blocked shots.

Counts and junior libero Anna Gurolnick led Colorado College with 15 digs apiece.

Jamison Duck posted a double-double with 13 kills and 12 digs to lead the Pirates.

The nightcap against Austin College was even more dramatic.

The Tigers had to overcome a two-set deficit and fought off a pair of match points in the fifth set before Steffey-Bean closed out the match with a pair of kills and a blocked shot.

CC started slowly against the 'Roos, trailing 8-3 in the first set before storming back with an 11-2 run. Austin did not wither and snapped a 19-19 tie with a 5-1 run and held on to take the first set.

Colorado College led 10-4 in set No. 2, only to see the 'Roos answer with an 8-3 run. With the score tied at 21-21, a pair of hitting errors and a blocking error helped Austin score four of the next six points to take the set.

The Tigers dominated the third and fourth sets, but the momentum did not carry through the fifth.

After trailing 10-6 midway through the set, the 'Roos responded with a 6-2 surge to tie the score and then took a 14-13 lead on a CC error. A kill by sophomore opposite hitter Laney Sawn tied the set again, and after Austin took the lead on a kill from Mayson Kennon, Steffey-Bean produced three consecutive points to give Colorado College the five-set victory.

Spaethling led the Tigers with 18 kills and four blocked shots. Harris finished with 15 kills and completed her double-double with a match-high 22 digs.

Steffey-Bean added 11 kills and a pair of blocks.

Kennon led the 'Roos with 11 kills, while Mari Prazak had a team-leading 21 digs.

CC, which improved to 22-2 overall and 9-1 in the SCAC, plays host to Centenary College on Saturday at 2 p.m.