JOPLIN, Mo. – The Missouri Western volleyball team (9-7, 2-3) ended its week on the road with a five-set loss at Missouri Southern (2-12, 2-3), Saturday afternoon. After jumping out to a comfortable 2-0 lead on the Lions, the Griffons saw leads evaporate in each of the next three sets.

NOTABLES

• Missouri Western led 22-16, 23-19 and 24-23 in the third before losing the set 27-25
• Southern closed the fourth on a 7-3 run to win the set 25-23 and force the fifth
• After falling behind 5-2 in the fifth, the Griffons rallied to take a 10-8 lead, but three-straight MWSU attack errors tied the set. The Griffons last lead in the fifth was at 12-11. Southern led the rest of the way
• It was the first loss for the Griffons in the series since 2010, snapping a streak of 15-straight wins over Missouri Southern
• The Griffons are now 0-4 in five-set matches this season after going 4-0 in five last season

STATS AND LEADERS

• After hitting .556 as a team in the first and .300 in the second, the Griffons hit .106, .021 and .000, respectively in the next three
• Liv Winker posted her first career double-double, with a career-high 46 assists and 13 digs. She added four kills, three aces and a block
• Rachel Losch matched season highs for kills (10) and blocks (6) while hitting .409
• Stephanie Doak led MWSU with 19 kills
• Audrey Keim led the Griffons with 15 digs

UP NEXT

• A non-conference match to end a four-game road trip at Truman State (10-3), Tuesday, Sept. 25
• The Griffons return home next weekend to face No. 6 Nebraska Kearney on Sept. 28 and Fort Hays State on Sept. 29

  — MWSU Athletics —