WICHITA, Kan. – The 25th ranked Missouri Western volleyball team (7-4) went 1-1 on the final day of the 2018 Jet Classic, hosted by Newman University.

The Griffons made quick work of the host-school before getting into a five-set barn burner with St. Edward’s (8-4).

MATCH 1: #25 MWSU 3, Newman 0 (25-20, 25-11, 25-18)
The Griffons tied a season-high with eight aces and put up eight blocks in a dominant sweep of the host, Newman (1-7). Missouri Western had 60 points in the match to Newman’s 31; 44 kills to Newman’s 26 and the Griffons didn’t allow a single Newman ace in the match. Ali Tauchen had 11 kills on a .563 hitting percentage, five total blocks and two aces. Stephanie Doak had 15 kills to lead the Griffons. Lauren Murphy had 38 assists to go with four total blocks, seven digs and two aces.

MATCH 2: St. Edward’s 3, #25 MWSU 2 (23-25, 28-26, 23-25, 25-18, 27-29)
St. Edward’s prevented the Griffons from coming home with a 4-0 record on the weekend in a wild final match of the day for Missouri Western. The teams traded close sets back and forth before the Griffons used a 13-2 run to end the fourth set, forcing the fifth. Missouri Western jumped ahead early in the fifth and had the game at match point, 14-11 in the fifth. From then on it turned into a back-and-forth set with the Griffons struggling to get ahead before St. Edward’s claimed the set, 29-27 and the match 3-2. Stephanie Doak had a career-high 26 kills in the match and was one of five Griffons with double-digit kills. Lauren Murphy had a double-double with 70 assists and 18 digs. Shellby Taylor had 18 kills. Rachel Losch hit .308 with 10 kills and six total blocks. Ali Tauchen had 16 kills and Sam Duncan had 14.

UP NEXT
The Griffons finally get to play in front of a home crowd, unveiling the newly remodeled MWSU Fieldhouse and two banners from the record breaking 2017 season on Sept. 14 against No. 10 Central Missouri (9-2).

— MWSU Athletics —