JOPLIN, Mo. – Griffon Volleyball (13-10, 7-8) survived for a crucial MIAA win in five sets at Missouri Southern (13-13, 6-10) Friday night. The win gave Missouri Western some separation from the Lions in the MIAA standings headed into the stretch run of the regular season. It also set up another big opportunity for the Griffons who will head to Pittsburg State, Saturday, tied with the Gorillas for 6^th in the standings.
 
Missouri Western got career high kill totals from Ali Tauchen (23), Sam Duncan (17) and Katerine White (12) in the win. Danielle Moje had four kills and hit .429 in the fifth to help slam the breaks on a Southern comeback attempt.
 
Missouri Western jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a 32-30 win in the first and a 25-20 in the second. The Lions took the next two, both 27-15 to force the winner-take-all game. MWSU led the fifth 12-6 and stayed ahead, taking the match with a 15-10 win in the fifth.
 
NOTABLES

• MWSU hit .333 in the first, .294 in the second and .320 in the fifth.
• The Griffons posted a season-high 78 kills, 13 more than their previous best.
• 75 assists as a team were also a season-high for MWSU with Lauren Murphy turning in 61.
• Both teams had six aces and it was the second 6-ace performance for the Griffs in a week.  
• Moje finished with 10 kills to give the Griffs four players with double-digit kills.

 
UP NEXT

• The Griffons will have a chance to claim sixth place to themselves at Pittsburg State (12-12, 7-8), Saturday.