KEARNEY, Neb. – No. 3-ranked Nebraska-Kearney defeated Griffon Volleyball for the second time this season, Friday night.
The Lopers, trying to move a game up on Washburn for first place in the MIAA, never allowed the Griffons more than the 17 Missouri Western put on the scoreboard in the first set.
NOTABLES
- The loss dropped the Griffons to ninth in the MIAA standings with the top eight qualifying for next week’s MIAA Championships. Missouri Western isn’t out of it with one regular season match remaining, the Griffons could wind up in a four-way tie for seventh place and get in with some tie breakers.
- Missouri Western still has a tie-breaker on Pittsburg State which lost Friday night to Emporia State, one of the other teams in the mix for the final spot. Pittsburg State plays at No. 11 Washburn, Saturday.
- Missouri Western had 28 attack errors and 29 kills in the match, never hitting above .088 in any set
- Nebraska Kearney managed six aces in the match to Missouri Western’s two
- The Griffons limited Nebraska Kearney to an .095 hitting percentage in the first set, but the Lopers responded with a .500 second set
LEADERS
- Ali Tauchen led the Griffons with 10 kills, four coming in the first set
- Rachel Losch had three total blocks to go with her seven kills
- Stephanie Doak had both the Griffon aces along with five kills
- Lauren Murphy finished with a team-high 25 assists
- Audrey Keim had 11 digs to lead the team
UP NEXT
Missouri Western travels south to Fort Hays State for a 3 p.m. match, Saturday. Fort Hays State (8-21, 2-15) lost in three sets to Northwest Missouri on Friday and hasn’t won a set since Oct. 16.
