ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - Griffon volleyball (22-6, 12-4 MIAA) bounced on Friday night with a dominant sweep (25-19, 25-10, 25-15) over Fort Hays State (12-12, 4-11 MIAA) on Senior Night. MWSU capped off the regular season with an 8-1 record at the MWSU Fieldhouse.
 
After the match, seniors Shelby Dannegger, Lily Kurz, Hailey Crane and Nessa Johnson were recognized for their contributions to the volleyball program. This group has played a significant role in helping the Griffons achieve 68 wins and secure four consecutive appearances in the MIAA tournament.
 
The opening set was the most competitive of the three, featuring seven ties and four lead changes. Emily Loy excelled offensively, leading the set with six kills. Johnson quickly established her rhythm at the setter position, contributing 12 assists to help propel the Griffs to a 1-0 lead.
 
Set two was controlled by Missouri Western from the very beginning. Kurz teamed up with sophomore Taylor Russell for a block that sparked a strong 10-1 run, which they capped off with another block. Kurz finished the set with a total of four blocks, while sophomore Anna Weberg contributed six digs – later finishing with a match-leading 14 digs.
 
In the final set, the Griffons managed to overcome an early deficit, taking their first lead at 9-8 following a service ace from Crane. From that point on, Western increased its lead to as much as 10 points, with Dannegger securing the match with her second kill.
 
Western put on a show on the offensive side of the net, finishing with 41 kills on .347 hitting. Loy led the offensive with 17 kills, while in her 100th career match, Johnson finished with a match-high 33 assists.
 
Defensively, the Griffons finished with 20 blocks compared to Fort Hays State's two. Kurz and the sophomore Emma Salker spearheaded the defensive showcase with five blocks each.
 
Missouri Western volleyball will await their seeding in the MIAA tournament. The Griffons are currently second in the KPI rankings and fourth in the latest regional rankings. For more information and updates, stay tuned to https://gogriffons.com/sports/womens-volleyball.