ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The No. 7 Griffon volleyball team battled No. 5 Nebraska-Kearney in a five-set MIAA showdown Saturday afternoon at the Looney Complex, falling 3-2 (23-25, 25-23, 25-21, 15-25, 11-15).
MoWest (16-2, 6-1 MIAA) took a 2-1 lead in the match before Nebraska-Kearney (19-1, 8-0 MIAA) rallied to claim the final two sets.
Taylor Russell led the Griffons offensively with a match-high 20 kills, hitting .349 while adding three block assists. Emily Loy followed with 16 kills, while Tanith Roush contributed 13 kills and three block assists.
Mackenzie Peters finished with eight kills on 11 attempts, posting a team-best .636 hitting percentage while adding five block assists and a service ace. Noelle Sutcliffe chipped in seven kills.
Defensively, Dakota Hendricks led MoWest with 25 digs, followed by Anna Weberg with 23. Holly Heldt added 13 digs, while Katelyn Diani-O'Day recorded 36 assists and Hayley Barsky contributed 22.
Nebraska-Kearney claimed the opening set 25-23 despite a late Griffon rally that erased a five-point deficit and tied the score at 20.
MoWest responded in the second set, overcoming a 20-15 deficit with a late surge to secure a 25-23 victory and even the match.
The Griffons carried that momentum into the third set, jumping out to a 7-2 advantage and extending their lead to 17-10. MoWest hit .333 in the frame with 17 kills, closing out a 25-21 victory to take a 2-1 match lead.
Nebraska-Kearney answered in the fourth set, hitting .441 without committing an attack error to secure a 25-15 win and force a deciding fifth set. The Lopers completed the comeback with a 15-11 victory in the final frame.
Up Next
The Griffons return to action Thursday, Oct. 15, hosting Washburn at 6 PM to open the 2026 MIAA Volleyball In-Season Tournament. The match will also serve as MoWest Faculty & Staff Appreciation Night.
MoWest will then host Fort Hays State on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 2 PM to close out the tournament. Fort Hays State and Washburn will also meet Friday, Oct. 16, at 6 PM at the Looney Complex.
