The Northwest Missouri State volleyball Bearcats snapped a four game skid on Friday night taking a, 3-1 win from Fort Hays State in MIAA action at Gross Coliseum.

The Bearcats improved to 4-7 on the year and picked up their first conference win moving to 1-2 in the MIAA winning, 25-14, 21-25, 27-25, and 25-23. Northwest two losses to open league play came against perennial powers and top 25 teams, Emporia State and Washburn. Fort Hays St. fell to 8-6 on the year and 0-4 in league play.

Northwest was led by senior setter Laira Akin, who notched her fifth double-double of the season, finished with 40 plus assists for the fifth time of the year as well. Akin and the Bearcats would roll in the first set aided by a, 6-0 Bearcat run which saw three blocks from Amy Majors with Akin adding an block assist.

Majors would be outstanding on the defensive side of the net with five of her 12 blocks coming in the first set.

The Tigers would battle back to steal the second set, but it would not be enough as the Bearcats would show resolve to finish out the final two sets.

Whitney Mason would knock down six kills to keep Northwest close in the second set before FHSU pulled out a, 25-21 win. Mason would finish the night with a season high 17 kills which was also a team high on the year.

In the final two sets, FHSU made the Bearcats earn the victory, as Northwest proved to be the better team. After back-to-back matches against ranked opponents the Bearcats showed resolve taking a, 27-25 win in the third set before closing out the Tigers, 25-23 in the final set.

The Bearcats return home to host Rockhurst on Tuesday night before closing out the weekend at the Pittsburg State Regional Challenge. Tip from Bearcat Arena is set for 7 p.m.

— NWMSU Sports Information —