The Missouri Western volleyball team continues to roll opening up the Middle of Everywhere Classic (Hosted by Missouri S&T) with a 3-0 (25-15, 25-19, 25-22) victory over the Southwestern Oklahoma State University Bulldogs. The Griffons improve to 5-0 as they hit .226 as a team with 43 kills.

MWSU came out on fire in the opening set hitting .333 with 18 kills and just two errors. After losing the first point of the set the Griffons took control opening up a 10-4 lead after an Erin Backhuus kill. The Griffons continued to put on the pressure building a ten point lead at 18-8. The Griffons finished off the match winning 25-15 after a Bulldog service error.

In set two the Griffons used two 6-2 runs taking a 16-10 lead midway through the second set. Both teams scored nine points the rest of the set with the Griffons winnin 25-19.

In the third match this did not look good for the Griffons as a 6-1 run by the Bulldogs gave SWOSU a 12-7 lead. Missouri Western picked up its game going on a 10-5 run tying the score at 17 after a kill by Meredith McCormick. The Bulldogs scored the next three points going up 20-17 but Missouri Western used a 5-0 run claiming a 22-20 lead. The Griffons rode the serving of freshman Holly Pollock in the run. The Griffons would hold on for the 25-22 victory in the set. The Griffons improve to 2-0 all-time against the Bulldogs.

Backhuus led MWSU with nine kills while Amanda Boender had eight. McCormick and Sarah Faubel finished with seven apiece. Stephanie Hattey had 24 set assists while Faubel had 17 digs. Pollock had 16 digs with one service ace.

The Bulldogs fall to 2-4 as Lindsay Dusin had six kills, 15 set assists and 11 digs.

— MWSU Sports Information —