The Missouri Western volleyball team went 1-1 on the final day of the Lady Buff Classic held in Canyon, Texas by West Texas A&M. Western opened up the day with a five set victory over Texas-Permian Basin (25-21, 20-25, 25-22, 14-25, 15-11, before falling 3-0 (25-12, 25-16, 27-25) against host school West Texas A&M closing out the classic. Western went 2-2 in the classic with their other victory coming against Eastern New Mexico University.
Texas-Permian Basin
The two teams played a close match opening up the final day of the Lady Buff Classic. The Griffons and Falcons played the first thirty points of the first set even before Western took four straight points giving them a 19-15 lead. The two teams scored six points apiece down the stretch but Western ended the set on a Tahler Johnston kill.
The Falcons tied the set at one taking set two 25-20. The Falcons scored five of the final eight points to claim the victory. Western came back winning set three 25-22 but once again the Falcons tied up the match at two taking set four in dominating fashion 25-14.
In set five the Griffons jumped out to a 6-1 lead and was able to hold on for the 15-11 victory in the set and a 3-2 match victory.
Western hit .171 with Johnston leading the way with 18 kills while Alex Behnke pitched in 11. Behnke hit .450 in the match. Stephanie Hattey had 30 set assists while Kelly Scannell pitched in 19. Sarah Faubel had 17 of the Griffons 56 digs.
The Falcons were led by Alex Genung with 18 kills while Melissa Lusk had 13. Sara Torres had 24 set assists while Ariel Fralick had 23. Defensively Danae Eckart had 19 digs. The Falcons fell to 0-3 with the loss.
West Texas A&M
The Lady Buffs dominated the fist two sets winning 25-12 and 25-16. Western played with West Texas A&M in set three but could not close out the set.
Western led 23-21 after a kill by Shelby Corkill but the Lady Buffs won six of the final eight points taking the set 27-25 and the match 3-0.
The Griffons hit .186 in the match with Behnke leading the charge with 10 kills. Hattey finished with 21 set assists while Johnston had 10 digs and nine kills.
West Texas had 12 kills apiece by Halie Harton and Stormi Lancaster. Lacy Hayes had 42 set assists while Lauren Beville had 13 digs. The Lady Buffs hit .376 in the match. The Lady Buffs improved to 3-0 with the victory.
The Griffons return to action on Friday, September 9 when they take on Chadron State at 2:00 pm and Nebraska-Kearney at 8:00 pm in the UNK Fall Classic presented by Best Western & Runza in Kearney, Neb.
— Associated Press —