The Missouri Western volleyball team gave the 5th ranked Central Missouri Jennies all they could handle Friday night but the Griffons lost 3-2 (25-21, 21-25, 21-25, 25-17, 15-13). It was the first time since September 16, 2005 that Western pushed the Jennies to five sets. The Griffons won that match 3-2 against the 10th ranked Jennies which was coach Marian Carbin’s senior season.
Things started out good for Missouri Western in set one leading for almost half the set. Erica Rottinghaus picked up three points off serve giving MWSU the 4-2 lead. The Griffons extended its lead to 8-4 but could not extend its lead by any more. The Jennies went on a 11-6 run claiming UCM’s first lead of the match at 15-14 after a Taylor Goodness kill. The Jennies finished the match on a 10-7 run claiming a set one 25-21 victory. The Griffons hit just .043 in the first set with just nine kills. Central Missouri had 16 kills hitting .213 in the set.
In set two Western jumped out to a 4-1 lead scoring four points off Kelly Scannell’s serve. The Jennies faught back taking a 12-9 lead after a Goodness kill. Missouri Western stayed calm going on a 9-2 run tdaking a 18-14 lead after a Rottinghaus service ace. MWSU continued to playe well getting the victory 25-21 and evening the set at one. At the break the Griffons were Kelsey Olion with six kills while Scannell had 13 set assists.
Out of the break Missouri Western kept up the intensity ending the set on a 11-7 run taking the set 25-21. With the score tied at 21the Griffons got two kills by Olion and two attack error’s by UCM to pick up the victory. In set four the Griffons dug themselves into a 17-3 hole but kept fighting pulling withing four at 18-14 after scoring seven points off Erin Backhuus’s serve and two off Veronika Goranova’s. The Jennies took control the rest of they way evening up the match at two after a 25-17 victory.
In the fifth and deciding the two teams went back and forth. Western used a 3-0 run midway through the final set claiming an 11-8 lead after a UCM attack error. From there the Jennies took control ending on a 7-4 run taking the match 3-2 and final set 15-13. The Jennies improve to 27-1 overall and 13-1 in MIAA play.
The Griffons had 52 kills and 77 digs on the season to go along with 12 blocks. Olion had 15 kills while Rottinghaus finished with 16 kills and 12 digs. Sarah Faubel had 19 digs while Scannell finished with 39 set assists. The Griffons fall to 14-14 overall and 7-7 in MIAA play.
The Jennies finished with 64 kills with Carly Sojka leading the way with 20 kills. Goodness had 17 kills while Julia Bates had 43 set assists and 11 digs.
Missouri Western return to action on Saturday, November 9 with an MIAA contest against Lindenwood University. Match time is set for 7:00 pm in the MWSU Fieldhouse.
— MWSU Sports Information —