Russell
AJ Robbins
Taylor Russell led all players with 28 points, notching four blocks.
3
Winner Central Okla. CentOK 18-3,9-2 Mid-America Intercollegiate
2
Missouri Western MW 14-6,7-4 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Winner
Central Okla. CentOK
18-3,9-2 Mid-America Intercollegiate
3
Final
2
Missouri Western MW
14-6,7-4 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Central Okla. CentOK 20 25 25 23 15 (3)
Missouri Western MW 25 16 22 25 13 (2)

Game Recap: Volleyball | | MWSU Media Relations

Griffons come up short in five-set classic vs. No 21 UCO

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Missouri Western State Volleyball lost in five sets (25-20, 16-25, 22-25, 25-23, 13-15) to the No. 21-ranked Central Oklahoma Bronchos Saturday at home at the MWSU Fieldhouse.

Taylor Russell finished with a career-high 26 kills on the day to lead the Griffon offense while finishing with a hitting percentage of .460. Her 26 kills are tied for the second most in a single MWSU match, just two shy of the single-game record.

Defensively, MWSU (14-6, 7-4 MIAA) had four players reach double figures in digs, highlighted by Anna Weberg's 24, 21 from Nessa Johnson and 16 more from Holly Heldt. From the front row, Lily Kurz contributed six blocks, and Danielle Moje added five rejections.

This win marks UCO's fifth in a row and improves the Bronchos' record to 18-3 overall and 9-2 in the MIAA

SET 1 | The Griffons grabbed control of the set-one lead at 5-4 and never looked back to win 25-20. Missouri Western led by as many as seven points at 19-12 before finishing off the set.

SET 2 | Missouri Western lost set two 25-16 to even the match 1-1. The Griffons fell behind on the first point and fought from behind the rest of the way before dropping the set.

SET 3 | A third-set loss put Missouri Western down 2-1. The Griffons battled back from a seven-point deficit at 18-11, but Central Oklahoma hung on to win the set 25-22.

SET 4 | Missouri Western broke their two-set losing streak and forced a fifth set with a 25-23 victory in set number four. The Griffons grabbed control of the set at 4-3 and never looked back. Missouri Western State by six points at 22-16 before closing out the stanza. Missouri Western also supplemented its offense with three aces in the set. Missouri Western got a solid defensive performance from a front row that blocked four Central Oklahoma attacks in the stanza.

SET 5 | After dropping sets two and three, Missouri Western won set four, knotting up the game at two sets apiece to force a fifth set, but couldn't complete the comeback, losing the set 15-13 and the match 3-2. The Griffons dropped the first point and never clawed back into the lead.

GAME NOTES

  • Missouri Western had four players in double figures in digs.
  • Heldt had a team-high two aces in the loss.
  • Russell's 26 kills mark a new MWSU and MIAA-high this season.
  • Missouri Western attackers were helped by a team-high 42 assists from Johnson.
UP NEXT
The Griffons take on Central Missouri (12-7, 9-2 MIAA) on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Warrensburg, Missouri, at the Multipurpose Building. The Jennies have lost two in a row, most recently falling in five sets this past Saturday at Fort Hays State. 
Print Friendly Version