Northwest Missouri State volleyball found more success at its home away from home as they took a 3-0 win from Pittsburg State at John Lance Arena on Wednesday night.

The Bearcats, who improved to 9-11 on the season and 3-4 in league play, went 3-1 just three weeks ago at the Pitt State Regional Challenge. Northwest did not play PSU in the tournament, but took three wins to close out the tournament and since have went 5-2 in their last seven games.

The Gorillas (7-16, 4-6 MIAA) took leads into the final two sets, but  the Bearcat showed the killer instinct rallying for a, 25-21, 25-23, 26-24 road win.

A pair of seniors jump started the Bearcat offense as setter Laira Akin recorded her 11th double-double of the year adding 40 assists and 10 digs. Alex Hanna tallied 14 kills and a .345 hitting percentage in the win. Akin also moved into third place all-time with 3,109 career assists passing Abby Wilms (3,104 from 1997-00) in the Northwest record books.

In the final set Northwest rallied from a 23-18 deficit, scoring eight of the final nine points to over-take the Gorillas and a 3-0 win.

PSU jumped out to a 16-9 lead before a Hanna kill started the Bearcat comeback.

Hanna would pound back-to-back kills knotting the game at 23-23 and forcing a Gorilla timeout. However the Bearcats finished the comeback in grand fashion as Hanna would add her third kill during the final nine point stretch with a PSU error mixed in to give Northwest its ninth win of the season.

Freshman Brooke Bartosh led Northwest with 15 kills and was also outstanding hitting at a .394 clip.

The Bearcats return to Bearcat Arena for a pair of home games during Homecoming weekend. Northwest will host Southwest Baptist at 7p.m. on Friday before a Saturday evening matchup with Missouri Southern at 6 p.m. Admission to Saturday’s game is free for all fans.

— NWMSU Sports Information —