The Northwest Missouri State volleyball team split a pair of matches on Friday at the SBU Purple Bash falling to Arkansas-Fort Smith, 3-0, but rebounding to knock off Central Oklahoma, 3-1 in the night cap.

The Bearcats kept their record even at 3-3 on Friday as they finish up the SBU Tournament on Saturday.

Northwest fell to Arkansas-Fort Smith, 3-0, but finished the day with arguably their best performance of the young season in a win over Central Oklahoma. Future MIAA foe, UCO had little answer to the Bearcats after they pulled out a narrow 26-24 win in the first set.

Northwest however would roll in the final three sets, 25-17, 25-15, 25-17 for the victory. Senior Laira Akin finished with her third highest career assist total at 49. Not only did Akin pace the Northwest offense, would finish with a double-double adding 13 digs on the defensive end.

A pair Bearcats finished with a hitting percentage over .300. Whitney Mason hit an incredible .526 with 12 kills, while Amy Majors and Brooke Bartosh led Northwest with 14 kills each. Majors hit at a .357 clip while Alex Hanna added 10 kills to her credit.

Tori Beckman also added 24 digs in the Bearcat win.

Complete stats for the Bearcats loss to the Lions were not available at day’s end.

Northwest opens the final day of the SBU Purple Bash with Minnesota State at 1 p.m. and will close out the tournament at 5 p.m. against another future MIAA opponent, Lindenwood.

— NWMSU Sports Information —