KEARNEY, Neb. – Without the team’s top offensive weapon, the Missouri Western volleyball team fell in three sets at No. 12 Nebraska-Kearney Saturday night.

Jessie Thorup did not play due to an injury suffered in Friday night’s win at Fort Hays State. The loss dropped Missouri Western to 20-7 on the season and 11-4 in MIAA play. The Griffons will host Northwest Missouri State and nationally ranked Central Missouri next week in the teams’ final two home games of the 2015 regular season.

Down two sets to none and facing game point in the third set, Missouri Western scored three straight points to take a 25-24 lead but UNK scored the next two to take the match in three sets. Missouri Western hit .189 on the night with 18 attack errors and had a 53 sideout percentage. Meanwhile, UNK hit .330 in the match with a 72 percent sideout percentage.

Shellby Taylor led the Griffons with nine kills as she hit .348. Ashley Mainord and Rachel Friedrichs each had eight kills with Friedrichs hitting .500 for the match and adding two blocks. Kayla Ruff’s 16 digs were most on the team and Jordan Chohon paced the Griffons with 34 assists.

Missouri Western will play on Tuesday and Thursday night next week in the fieldhouse, hosting Northwest on the 10th at 7 p.m. and Central Missouri on the 12th at 7 p.m. Nov. 12, the team will honor seniors Jessie Thorup, Jordan Chohon and Lindsey Partridge.

— MWSU Athletics —