JOPLIN, Mo. — Griffon Volleyball forced a fifth set after falling behind 0-2 for the first time this season but ultimately fell 3-2  to Missouri Southern on Tuesday night at the Leggett  Platte Athletic Center.

SET 1
MSSU 25, MWSU 21
While Missouri Southern (4-10, 1-5 MIAA) jumped out to an early 5-2 lead, MSSU (6-8, 1-4 MIAA) used runs of 4-0 and 5-0 to take a lead they wouldn't relinquish for the rest of the set. Four of Southern's Jaryn Bennings' kills match-high of 15 occurred in the first, setting an early tone in favor of the Lions.

SET 2
MSSU 25, MWSU 18
Only one tie took place in set two — a 1-1 tie right out of the gates. A 3-0 Southern run highlight by three-straight Lion kills gave MSSU the only room it needed for the set. They outscored the Griffons 9-1 in the final 10 points of the game.

SET 3
MWSU 25, MSSU 14
Set three didn't start out as lopsided as the score indicates, as the Lions and Griffons kept pace with each other often, deadlocked at 10-10 early. A Griffon run of 4-0 opened up the woodworks, courtesy of two kills each from Katherine White and Lily Kurz. Three more 3-0 spurts helped the Griffons cruise to their first set win of the night.

SET 4
MWSU 25, MSSU 20
Going blow for blow in the first combined eight points of the set, MWSU rattled off its match-high of seven consecutive points to up 10-5. Missouri Western ended the set on a 3-0 run capped by a service ace from Emma Salker.

SET 5
MSSU 20, MWSU 18
After a brief 8-4 Griffon start, Missouri Western and Southern traded each point from a 12-11 Griffon lead to a 17-16 Lions lead. The Griffons had set point at 16-15 but gave up two-straight kills to go down. After a service error to extend the match and Lion attack error to make it 18-18, a Lion attack and Griffon attack error ended the night in Southern's favor.

NOTABLES

• This is the first time the Griffons have erased an 0-2 deficit all season.
• Danielle Moje led the Griffs with 14 kills.
• Lia Graham set a new season and career-high of 27 digs.
• Yanni Washington sent home a season and career-high of 11 kills.
• This is just MSSU's second win over MWSU since 2010. Southern's last win occurred on Sept. 22 of 2018 in a 3-2 final.

UP NEXT 
The Griffons return home on Friday to take on Newman (7-9, 2-4 MIAA) at 6 p.m. at the MWSU Fieldhouse. The Jets lost at home in a 3-0 match vs. Southern Nazarene.