SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Four matches and four sweeps for the Missouri Western volleyball team on the opening weekend of the season at the Illinois Springfield Capital Classic. Missouri Western swept Illinois Springfield and Walsh on Saturday to start the season perfect.
ON THE DAY
Missouri Western hit a modest .260 on the day but held its two opponents to a .105 attack percentage. The Griffons recorded seven services aces over the two matches and had 11 total blocks. Stephanie Doak led the team with 25 kills and four of the aces. Doak also had three blocks. Shellby Taylor had 18 kills and five total blocks. Lauren Murphy had 72 assists, averaging 12 per set. Audrey Keim led the team with 28 digs. Tiana Butler had 27.
AT ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD
After taking a back-and-forth first set, 25-23, Missouri Western was in danger of dropping its first set of the season in the second. Illinois Springfield staked a 20-17 lead that prompted a MWSU timeout. The break sparked a late run by the Griffons that resulted in another 25-23 Griffon win. Missouri Western held off a late charge by the Prairie Stars to seal the sweep, 25-22. Doak had 13 kills and three total blocks in the match. Shellby Taylor added 10 kills on a .391 percentage with two blocks. Tiana Butler led the team with a career-high 20 digs.
VS WALSH
Missouri Western held Walsh to a .000 hitting percentage in the match. In a 25-9 second set, the Griffons hit.444 with just two total errors, one attack and one service. Doak added 12 kills in the second match of the day along with three aces. Lauren Murphy had 34 assists and 10 digs. Ali Tauchen hit .438 with nine kills and added four blocks.
UP NEXT
Missouri Western heads to one of the top NCAA Division II volleyball classics when the team plays in the Colorado Premier Challenge. The Griffons open at co-host Regis on Aug. 31 before taking on Angelo State later in the day. The event is bracketed after the first day, so the Griffons’ Sept. 1 opponents will be determined based on the day one results.
— MWSU Athletics —