HAYS, Kan. - The Griffon volleyball team (12-3, 3-1 MIAA) bounced back with its first road win in conference play against the Fort Hays State Tigers (9-4, 1-3 MIAA) on Saturday afternoon.
 
Missouri Western claimed the match with set scores of 25-22, 25-23, 15-25 and 26-24 to extend its win streak over Hays to five straight.
 
The first set was a back-and-forth clash in the early stages, with eight ties and a pair of lead changes. After a timeout by FHSU, MWSU reached 20 points with a service ace from Nessa Johnson. The Tigers attempted a late comeback with a 4-0 run, but a block from Taylor Russell sealed the set with a score of 25-22.
 
Fort Hays garnered early momentum and led for most of the second set. However, the Griffons surged ahead toward the end of the set with an 8-3 run, led by three kills from Emily Loy, to take a 2-0 lead. The set concluded with 10 total tied scores and five lead changes.
 
Hays avoided the sweep with a 25-15 victory in the third set, where they led by as many as nine.
 
Western rebounded in the fourth and final set, taking it 26-24. Neither team could break away, as they were separated by only one point at the 20-19 mark. An attacking error from the Tigers contributed to the Griffon's second set point opportunity, where Holly Heldt and Emma Salker sealed the match with a block.
 
Johnson paced the Griffons' offense with an impressive 53 assist, 13 dig double-double for her seventh double-double of the season. Heldt added her fifth double-double of the season with a team-leading 17 kills and 14 digs.
 
Loy (16) and Salker (15) also had good offensive shows with double-digit kills for MWSU. Lia Graham shined at libero, finishing with collecting 14 digs.
 
The Griffons will conclude their three-match road stint on Tuesday against the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats in Maryville. Action from Bearcat Arena is scheduled to take place at 6:00 p.m.