TOPEKA, Kan. – The Missouri Western volleyball team closed out the Washburn Invitational with its strongest outing. The Griffons split the day’s action, ending in victory with a sweep.
Match 1: Quincy University 3, MWSU 1
Missouri Western dropped its opening game of day two at the Washburn Invitational to Quincy University 3-1 (25-16, 24-26, 23-25, 22-25).
The Griffons raced out early to a 1-0 match lead by using two different 5-1 rallies to take the first set 25-16. Kelsey Olion helped Missouri Western break open the first set with five kills.
Missouri Western wasted little time getting ahead as it jumped to an early 9-1 advantage to open the second set. The Griffons, however could not sustain the momentum they had built early. Quincy University tied the match at 19-19 and the Griffons never could regain the lead after that.
Third set, saw Missouri Western fall behind early but a Blair Russell kill would start a 6-1 Griffon rally to tie the set. Despite scoring four of the last six set points, Missouri Western could not steal the set.
The fourth set, saw the Griffons jump out again to an early lead after three consecutive kills by Russell. Quincy would eventually even the score at 18-18 and never give it back, winning the set and match. Stephanie Doak led the Missouri Western attackers with 14 kills. Kelsey Olion finished with 12 kills while adding four aces.
Match 2: MWSU 3, Midwestern State 0
Missouri Western finished the Washburn Invitational with 3-0 (25-15, 25-14, 25-23) sweep over Midwestern State. The final match saw the Griffons trail only three times in the entire match.
The Griffons broke to a fast start against the Mustangs. Midwestern State scored the set’s first point but it would be their only lead. Missouri Western found a balanced attack in the set, with five players each recording two kills with aces by Kayla Ruff and Kelsey Olion.
Second set was the best for the Griffons, as they never trailed. After a 9-3 run early, Missouri Western blew the set wide open. The run started with three consecutive kills by the Griffon attackers to push the lead to 15-7. A Rachel Losch kill ended the set, giving MWSU a 2-0 match lead.
After a sluggish start in the third set, the Griffons trailed 9-2, before the offense reappeared. An 11-4 advantage allowed Missouri Western to tie the match at 13-13. Rachel Friedrich’s kill while down 21-19 started a 6-2 run allowing the Griffons to close out for the win. Missouri Western was led behind Stephanie Doak’s 10 kills and Kourtney Blaufuss’s 31 assist.
The Griffons open the 2016 home season by hosting the Gold & Green Challenge. Missouri Western opens with Oklahoma Baptist at 10 a.m. followed by Missouri S&T at 6 p.m.
— MWSU Athletics —