LIBERTY, Mo. - Senior setter Nessa Johnson tabbed her 1,000th career dig for the No. 24 Griffons (17-4) as they wrapped up non-conference play with a dominant sweep over the William Jewell Cardinals (7-15) on Tuesday night. MWSU claimed the match with set scores of 25-17, 25-20 and 25-18.
 
The two teams traded momentum in the early portion of the opening set, with three ties and one lead change up to the sixth point. However, the Griffons took control midway through the set to secure the eight-point victory. MWSU hit an efficient .333, and Noelle Sutcliff led the Griffs with six kills.
 
Johnson added another career milestone in the second set, as she notched her 1,000th career dig with her first dig in the set. Missouri Western gained a 2-0 advantage by finishing the set with a 5-1 run. Holly Heldt contributed to the dominant set with five kills, while Johnson provided 10 assists.
 
The Cardinals did not go away without a fight in the third, forcing six ties and tallying their fourth lead change of the match. Taylor Russell, Emily Loy and Heldt each collected four kills, and the team hit an impressive .400 to secure the match, 3-0.
 
Johnson paced the MWSU offense with 32 assists to bring her season assist total to 840. The Gilbert, Iowa native also tabbed her 12th double-double with a team-leading 15 digs.
 
Heldt finished with a match-leading 12 kills. The sophomore added seven digs and three blocks on the defensive side of the net. Fellow sophomore Loy recorded the second-most kills for the Griffs with eight total.
 
The Griffons will return home for 'Alumni Day' this Saturday in a much-anticipated rematch with rival Northwest Missouri State (12-7, 6-3 MIAA). Action from the MWSU Fieldhouse is scheduled for a 2:00 p.m. start.