KEARNEY, Neb. – Griffon volleyball (24-9) advanced to their first-ever MIAA Championship final with a five-set win over No.12 Central Oklahoma (28-5) Friday night at the Health & Sports Center in Kearney, Nebraska. The win gave Missouri Western head coach Marian Carbin her 100th career win.

MAKE HISTORY, REPEAT HISTORY
As MWSU made history with its first-ever win in the MIA Semifinals, it also repeated history. The Griffons beat the 12th-ranked Bronchos in five-sets for the second time this season. Similar to the first match on Oct. 13, Missouri Western trailed the match 2-1 headed into the fourth set. As history happened, it looked eerie similar as MWSU won the fourth set 25-20, just as it did at the first match. The Griffons surged late in the fifth-set to repeat history.

CAREER NIGHTS
Head coach Marian Carbin became the fourth coach in program history to record 100 wins. Carbin also coached her alma mater to its 24th win of the season, the most in her career and most for the program since 1997. Shellby Taylor was the fire Missouri Western needed for the win. Taylor finished the match with 22 kills, a new career-high. Kayla Ruff added to her historical career with a career-best 38 digs. Her 38 digs is the second most for a five-set match in program history.

UP NEXT
Missouri Western advanced to the MIAA Championship final on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. in Kearney, Nebraska. The Griffons will play the winner of No.7 Nebraska Kearney and No. 18 Central Missouri.

— MWSU Athletics —