ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western volleyball team dropped its second-straight match and first at home this season, dropping three close sets to No. 14 Central Oklahoma Friday night in the MWSU Fieldhouse.

The loss dropped the Griffons to 10-4 overall and 2-1 in MIAA play. The win improved Central Oklahoma to 14-1 and 3-0 in the MIAA. UCO is now tied for first in the conference with Northwest Missouri State, which defeated Pittsburg State Friday night. The Griffons will host Pittsburg State Saturday afternoon.

Missouri Western went point-for-point with Central Oklahoma, which has now won eight-straight. The match featured 16 ties and eight lead changes, four each in the first two sets. The Bronchos won set one and three, 25-21 and took the second set 25-22. Missouri Western scored four-straight points in the first to tie the set at 17, but UCO jumped back in front and led the rest of the way. The Griffons led 15-9 in set two but three-straight errors brought the Bronchos within three. Missouri Western stretched the lead to 18-13 but allowed UCO to go on an 8-0 run that put UCO up for good. The third set was closely contested but tied only once as UCO took the set 25-21.

MWSU was led by Jessie Thorup’s 11 kills. The senior was honored before the match as just the fourth Griffon to reach 1,000 kills in the rally scoring era. She eclipsed the mark earlier this week in a loss at Missouri S&T. Blair Russell added 10 kills and Rachel Friedrichs had eight. Friedrichs and Shellby Taylor each had three blocks and Jordan Chohon had 34 assists. Kayla Ruff tied a career-high with 21 digs.

The Griffons stay at home when they host Pittsburg State at 2 p.m. Saturday.

— MWSU Athletics —