ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Missouri Western Volleyball team upset #11 Central Missouri in five sets (14-25, 25-19, 20-25, 25-23, 15-12) at the MWSU Fieldhouse Friday night.

After dropping the first set, the Griffons started with fire in the second set. Leading 5-3, Ashley Mainord would drop a kill that ignited a 5-0 run to push the lead to 10-3 and MWSU would never look back.

The third set saw UCM take an early 12-7 advantage before a Rachel Losch kill and two aces from Kayla Ruff allowed Missouri Western to tie the set at 12-12.  Both teams would swap the lead before the Jennies rallied to take the set.

Stephanie Doak would start a 5-0 fourth set rally with a kill to give Missouri Western a 7-5 edge.  After that point neither team would take a lead greater than two points as they battled towards the end.  Rachel Friedrichs would get the set clinching kill to force the decisive fifth set.

The Griffons used a 3-0 start to set the tone of the fifth set and would never give up that lead up. Ashley Mainord would knock home the game winning kill for Missouri Western to complete the upset.

MWSU rallied behind Ashely Mainord, who finished with 10 kills, 6 blocks and an ace.  The Griffons also used a balance attack from Stephanie Doak’s 13 kills and Blair Russell’s 10 kills.  Tiana Butler continued to be a force at the service line as she aced the Jennies four times as Kayla Ruff served up two of her own aces.  Kelsey Olion tallied 20 digs and Ruff recorded 19 digs.  Kortney Blaufuss would end the night with 37 assist.

Missouri Western will look to build on their upset as it travels to Lindenwood Saturday for a 6 p.m. match.

— MWSU Athletics —