ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Griffon Volleyball shook off a four-set loss from Friday night with a four-set win of its own, defeating Missouri Southern on Saturday at the MWSU Fieldhouse.
SET 1
MWSU 25, MSSU 20
After trading the first 13 combined points of the game, Missouri Western (7-14, 4-9 MIAA) distanced itself with a 4-0 run to take a 12-7 lead. Southern (9-13, 4-9 MIAA) kept pace, however, taking a 20-19 lead thanks to one of Fernanda Canedo's match-high 16 kills. The Griffons then brought home six-straight points with the first five coming off MSSU errors, with
Emma Salker sealing the set with a service ace to give MWSU the win.
SET 2
MWSU 25, MSSU 19
Building a 9-2 lead, MWSU never trailed nor let MSSU tie the second set, rattling off three 3-0 runs to down the Lions and take a 2-0 lead.
SET 3
MSSU 25, MWSU 14
Similar to MWSU's dominance in the second set, Southern never relinquished its grip on the lead in the third, as the Lions built a match-high 7-0 run to eventually get themselves on the overall scoreboard.
SET 4
MWSU 27, MSSU 25
The most exciting set of the afternoon was also the final one. With MWSU leading 17-15, Salker slammed two more kills to wrap a 4-0 spurt to put her Griffons closer to their first home win since Sept. 30. The Lions delayed that with a 4-0 gash to bring the game within two points before ultimately tying it at 25-25. Canedo couldn't cement a Lion lead, though, committing her sixth attack error allowing
Nessa Johnson to send the Griffon crowd home happy with her third and final kill of the day.
NOTABLES
- Danielle Moje's 14 kills led all Griffons and marks her fourth-straight match in double-digits. She has 211 this season — the 13th most the MIAA.
- Lia Graham led the Griffons with 23 digs, notching 20 or more for third time this season and the first time since Sept. 27.
- Salker led MWSU with a career-high two service aces.
- While MWSU and MSSU are both 4-9 in the MIAA, the Griffons still remain in ninth place in the MIAA due to the Lions having a better overall record.
- This win avenges MWSU's 3-2 loss in Joplin, Missouri, back on Sept. 27.
UP NEXT
Missouri Western will play its only home match on a Tuesday this year this upcoming week, squaring off with No. 15 Northwest Missouri State (15-5, 9-3 MIAA) at 6 p.m. at the MWSU Fieldhouse. The now third-place Bearcats beat the Griffons back on Sept. 7 in Maryville, Missouri, 3-0.
