ST. JOSEPH – A season sweep of longtime Missouri Western volleyball nemesis Central Missouri was not to be as Missouri Western dropped a nail-biter to No. 13 Central Missouri on Senior Night in the MWSU Fieldhouse.

The match featured 35 ties and 16 lead changes with all three sets decided by two points and two going past 25 points. Central Missouri had to get to 26 to defeat Missouri Western in the first and 29 in the third. Missouri Western limited Central Missouri’s opportunities for kills, forcing the Jennies into 21 attack errors as UCM hit .194 on the night. Central Missouri did the same to Missouri Western, with the Griffon shitting .136 with 18 attack errors.

Shellby Taylor led Missouri Western with 10 kills on the night. Blair Russell finished with nine kills. Four Griffons finished with double-digit dig numbers: Kayla Ruff with 19, Audrey Keim with 16, and Jordan Chohon and Amanda Dalbey each had 13. Chohon also led the team with 32 assists.

After the match, Chohon, Jessie Thorup and Lindsey Partridge were honored as part of senior night festivities. Central Missouri allowed Thorup to open the second set with a serve for an ace. The senior’s season was ended last weekend at Fort Hays State due to injury.

The loss dropped Missouri Western to 21-8 overall and 12-5 in the MIAA. The team concludes the 2015 regular season, Saturday at Lindenwood and will await for its MIAA Tournament seeding and location of the first round game.

— MWSU Athletics —