KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Two difficult games tripped Griffon Volleyball  up as the Rockhurst Classic as they wrapped up their season opener Saturday evening. 

MATCH 1
Hillsdale 3, MWSU 2

The Griffons took on No. 16 Hillsdale College, as the Chargers (1-1), beat the Griffons in five sets. The Griffons took set one 25-18 after the opening points were split evenly. The Griffons took the lead at 7-6 and never looked back.

Set two a back and forth affair, with both teams trading points. The Griffons looked to have the set secured, but Hillsdale came back to tie it at 23-23. The Griffons then won two points in a row to win the set 25-23. 

Set three was the closest of them all, with neither team taking more than a two point lead the entire set. The Griffons took their last lead at 25-24, but Hillsdale tied it at 25-25, then won three of the next four points to win 28-26.

Set four was not as close. The Chargers jumped out to a 12-2 lead and the Griffons just couldn't get back in the game. The set finished 25-13 in favor of the Hillsdale. Set five saw the Chargers jump out to a big lead at 6-1, but the Griffons battled back to tie it at 7-7. The Chargers went on to win the set 15-8.

Danielle Moje lead the Griffons with 19 kills. Nessa Johnson had 26 assists and Zari Montgomery had 25. 

MATCH 2
Rockhurst 3, MWSU 2    

The next Griffon opponent was host Rockhurst. The Hawks (3-0) beat the Griffons in a hotly contested five-set affair. Set one saw the Griffons battle back and forth with the hosts, but after trading points all the way through, the Griffons came out on top 26-24. 

Set two was again closely contested, with the Griffons taking the lead for the last time at 16-15. Rockhurst then went on a run to put the set out of reach and won it 25-21.

Set three saw many ties, including one as late as 20-20. The Griffons took four straight points from that point, three of those facilitated by Nessa Johnson, and closed the set out at 25-22.  Set four found the Griffons battling from behind most of the set. After Rockhust tied the set at 12-12, they went on a run to put it out of reach for the Griffons, and won the set 25-18.

Set five went the way of the Hawks as well, as they closed out the match with a 15-9 win. 

Katherine White lead the Griffons with 13 kills, while Nessa Johnson lead the team with assists (27) and digs (23).

2022 ROCKHURST INVITATIONAL TEAM RECORDS
Rockhurst 4-0
Hillsdale 3-1
Black Hills State 1-3
Minnesota State 1-3
Missouri Western 1-3
 
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Kenzie Hines, JR, OH, Rockhurst
Tera Reberry, JR, RS, Rockhurst
Alli Wiese, SO, LB, Hillsdale
Kindra Cerrone, SR, OH, Black Hills State
Ellie Danielson, JR, MB, Minnesota State
Danielle Moje, JR, MB, Missouri Western

Most Outstanding Libero: Maureen Reilly, JR, Rockhurst


NEXT UP

 The Griffons (1-3) head to Springfield, Missouri to play in the Southwest Baptist/Drury University Invitational. They kick off the invitational with host Drury (0-4) on Friday at 10 a.m.