ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — It was a match full of firsts for Griffon Volleyball this Saturday afternoon, as Head Coach Jessica Fey earned her first MIAA win and home victory in a 3-2 final vs. Fort Hays State at the MWSU Fieldhouse. 
 
SET 1
MWSU 25, FHSU 19
The Griffons (4-9, 1-4 MIAA) took control of the net in set one, outscoring Fort Hays State in kills, 15-5. Yanni Washington led MWSU in the first set with six kills, while Danielle Moje hammered home five. The Tigers (6-8, 1-5 MIAA) temporarily tied the set at 3-3 but could never grab a lead of their own, as the Griffons kept their opponents at arm's length for the 25-19 victory.
 
SET 2
FHSU 25, MWSU 15
Missouri Western's offensive leaders, Washington and Moje, couldn't find the same rhythm they had in set one, only recording one kill combined in the second set. Fort Hays took the forefront offensively, notching 15 kills to MWSU's seven despite the Griffons out-attacking FHSU 39-35. However, nine attack errors hurt MWSU in the long run, as a 7-0 run by FHSU broke an early 6-6 tie and kept the set firmly in the Tigers' pocket for the rest of the set.
 
SET 3
FHSU 25, MWSU 23
A match-high 10 ties occurred and four lead changes occurred in set three. Down 15-13, MWSU rattled off 5-0 run and then a 3-0 run sparked by Katherine White's six set kills to take a 19-16 lead. Fort Hays collected five consecutive points to flip its 21-18 deficit to a 22-1 advantage, eventually winning 25-23. 
 
SET 4
MWSU 25, FHSU 21
Trailing 6-3, MWSU put together runs of 5-0 and 4-0 to go up 12-7. While Fort Hays eventually tied things up 19-19, kills from White and Jessica Hendrix put Moje in motion to fire down a kill for the 25-21 win.
 
SET 5
MWSU 15, FHSU 7
Missouri Western controlled set five from the get-go, never trailing thanks to nine Griffon kills compared to the Tigers' two. Up 11-7, MWSU used a 4-0 run to close out FHSU with White's season-high 13th kill.
 
NOTABLES

• This is Head Coach Jessica Fey's first win inside MWSU Fieldhouse and first win in the MIAA as a coach.
• Nessa Johnson matched a career-high of 43 digs.
• Saturday's match marks the first five-set bout for MWSU since Sept. 2 against No. 13 Southwest Minnesota State.
• Missouri Western's win breaks a four-match losing streak.

NEXT UP
Missouri Western's rescheduled match vs. Missouri Southern (5-7, 0-3 MIAA) is set for this Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Joplin, Missouri, at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. Southern is currently riding a four-match losing streak.