ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western Women’s Basketball team continued an early trend of scoring in an 89-52 win over Minnesota State. The win improved Missouri Western to 3-0 on the season and kept the team’s scoring average over 90 points per game.

The Griffons were led by Chelsea Dewey’s 20 points, which matched a career-high for the junior guard. Dewey added five rebounds and four assists. Missouri Western finished with 17 assists as a team to 15 turnovers and 21 steals. LaQuinta Jefferson had 15 points; led the team with eight rebounds and added four steals in her first game of the 2015 season. Sarafina Handy continued an early hot streak with 14 points and Miliakere Koyamainavure added 10 points with eight steals and five rebounds.

Minnesota State never really threatened with the Griffons jumping out to an early 7-0 lead. ON the night, Missouri Western shot 47 percent from the field, – Dewey was 8-11 – 50 percent from three-point range and 88 percent at the free throw line. The Griffons forced Minnesota State into 33 turnovers on the night and limited the Mavericks to 37 percent shooting from the field.

The Griffons get a break from competition for the next week before hosting the Holiday Inn Express Classic next weekend. Missouri Western opens the classic with Evangel on Nov. 27 at 7:30 p.m. then closes out the event on the 28th at 5 p.m. against Graceland.

— MWSU Sports Information —

TOPEKA, Kan. – The Missouri Western volleyball team had its season come to an end with a five set loss in the first round of the MIAA tournament at No. 15 Washburn.

The fifth seeded Griffons jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Washburn in a back-and-forth first set. Missouri Western trailed 20-17 in the first and rallied back to take a 24-23 lead, the first of five set points before the Griffons would eventually claim the set, 30-28. Washburn controlled the second set, winning 25-18. The third set played out much like the first with a little less drama and Missouri Western winning 28-26. Washburn would go on to dominate the fourth set, winning 25-15. In the fifth, Washburn jumped out to an early lead, going up 6-1 before claiming the set 15-10.

Washburn had 87 kills to Missouri Western’s 61 and out-hit the Griffons .303 to .193. Rachel Friedrichs led the Griffons with a career-high 16 kills and hit .429 on the night. Shellby Taylor also had a career-high with 15 kills and Blair Russell finished with 13. Lindsey Partridge finished her final match with six total blocks and six kills on a .333 attack percentage. Kayla Ruff led the team with 29 digs and Jordan Chohon added a career-high 24 digs.

Missouri Western finished the season 21-10, the first back-to-back 20-win seasons for the team since 1997-98 and had six players named to the All-MIAA team.

— MWSU Athletics —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Eighteen members of the 2015 Griffon Football team have been named All-MIAA with three earning first team honors.

Defensive back Michael Jordan became a three-time first team selection as the Griffons only unanimous pick on the 2015 All-MIAA team. He was joined by offensive lineman Travis Anderson who earned his second straight first team nod and linebacker Yomi Alli. Named to the second team were running back Raphael Spencer, return specialist Brandynn Clark, defensive lineman Arbanas Elliott and defensive back Sam Brown. On the third team were wide receiver Dee Toliver, tight end Alek Ferbet, offensive lineman John Carter, linebacker Darrian Bass and punter Matthew Vincent. Honorable mention selections were offensive lineman Leonard Wester, defensive lineman Janis Matulis, linebackers Cody Lindsay and Jorge Belcher and defensive backs Jonathan Owens and Donte Watkins.

Missouri Western landed all four of its starting defensive backs on the team, along with all four starting linebackers, two of three starting defensive linemen and three starting offensive linemen. Eight of the student-athletes named to this year’s team are repeat selections from 2014, with 10 first time All-MIAA selections. Matthew Vincent’s selection as third team punter saves a streak of a Missouri Western punter or kicker being named All-MIAA that dates back to 2005.

FIRST TEAM
Michael Jordan, defensive back (unanimous selection)
Jordan’s selection to the team makes him the first Griffon named All-MIAA four times in his career since Roger Allen, who was also freshman of the year and honorable mention in year one before becoming a three-time first team selection. The senior finished the season with a career-high five interceptions, giving him 16 for his career, the second most in MWSU history. Jordan led the MIAA and was third in all of Division II with 22 passes defended.

Travis Anderson, offensive line
Anderson could now become the first offensive lineman named to three first teams since Allen. The junior started all but one game for Missouri Western this season, helping Raphael Spencer to his third 1,000 yard season.

Yomi Alli, linebacker
Alli earned his third All-MIAA selection in his sixth season with the team. Last year he received honorable mention after being named second team in 2013. Alli finished the year sixth in the MIAA with a career-high 108 tackles. His 325 career tackles currently rank him second on the MWSU career tackles list, which dates back to 1989.

SECOND TEAM
Raphael Spencer, running back
Now a three-time All-MIAA selection after being named first team in 2014 and second team in 2013, Spencer became just the second Griffon ever to rush for 4,000 yards in his career on Nov. 7 at Nebraska-Kearney. His 4,234 career rushing yards rank second to Michael Hill’s 4,969 on the all-time list at MWSU. The Kansas City native ended his career with three seasons over 1,000 yards, 750 total rushing attempts (2nd all-time), 31 rushing touchdowns (4th all-time) and a 5.6-yard per carry average in his career.

Brandynn Clark, punt/kickoff returner
Clark was named MIAA Special Teams Athlete of the Week after accumulating 184 return yards and an 82-yard punt return for a touchdown in his final game as a Griffon. The senior led the MIAA, averaging 14.3 yards per punt return and was 16th in the MIAA with an 18.4 yard per kickoff return average.

Arbanas Elliott, defensive lineman
Elliott became a three-time All-MIAA selection after earning second team honors last season and third team honors in 2013. The nose guard had 21 total tackles, four quarterback hurries and an interception this season. He finished his career with 94 tackles and two interceptions.

Sam Brown, defensive back
Brown earned his first All-MIAA honor in his last season at Missouri Western. The corner finished 2015 with 43 total tackles and three interceptions. The St. Louis native had six interceptions in his career and 123 tackles.

THIRD TEAM
Dee Toliver, wide receiver
Toliver becomes All-MIAA for the first time in his career after leading the team with 33 catches and 756 receiving yards. His 22.91 yards per reception led the MIAA and were second in all of Division II football. Toliver set personal career-highs for catches, yards and touchdowns with five. He caught 78 passes for 1,415 yards and 10 touchdowns in his career as a Griffon.

Alek Ferbet, tight end
Ferbet earned his second All-MIAA selection after being named honorable mention in 2014. The senior had his best year as a Griffon with 25 receptions for 320 yards and two touchdowns. He finished his career with 43 catches for 543 yards and four touchdowns.

John Carter, offensive lineman
The junior earned his first All-MIAA selection after starting all 11 games for an offense that finished fifth in the MIAA in rushing yards per game and seventh in total offense. Carter has played in every game since arriving on campus and has started every game the last two seasons.

Darrian Bass, linebacker
Bass earned his first All-MIAA selection after totaling 62 tackles, six sacks and three interceptions this season. The junior had nine tackles for loss, five quarterback hurries and nine passes defended from his linebacker position.

Matthew Vincent, punter
The transfer made it 16-straight years Missouri Western has had a punter and/or kicker named All-MIAA. Vincent led the MIAA with 21 punts downed inside the 20-yard line. He forced 24 fair catches, third in the MIAA and had a long kick of 70 yards, averaging 39.4 yards per punt.

HONORABLE MENTION
Leonard Wester, offensive lineman
Wester added his second postseason honor of 2015 after being named first team CoSIDA Academic All-District. It’s the second straight year the senior was named honorable mention All-MIAA. Wester started all 11 games at left tackle again this season and ended his career with 24 consecutive starts and 30 career starts.

Janis Matulis, defensive lineman
Matulis’s first All-MIAA selection came after starting all 11 games for Missouri Western for the third straight season. Matulis played in all but one game in his four years of eligibility, amassing 86 career tackles and four sacks.

Cody Lindsay, linebacker
Lindsay led Missouri Western for the second straight year with 7.5 sacks, fourth in the MIAA, and was named honorable mention for the second time in his two years as a Griffon. This season, the sophomore had 56 total tackles, 15 for loss, to go with the sacks. He now has 25 career tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks after two years in a Griffon uniform.

Jorge Belcher, linebacker
Belcher picked up his first All-MIAA nod despite missing the last two games and most of another due to injury. The fourth starting Griffon linebacker on the All-MIAA squad, Belcher finished the year with 29 total tackles, four for loss and 3.5 sacks.

Jonathan Owens, defensive back
The sophomore safety earned his first All-MIAA selection in his first season as a starter. Owens had 85 total tackles, four interceptions and nine passes defended this season. Owens also recorded 1.5 sacks from his safety position.

Donte Watkins, defensive back
Watkins joined fellow starting secondary members, Jordan, Brown and Owens on the All-MIAA team, a first for the sophomore. Watkins had two interceptions to go with 59 tackles this season. He also recorded seven passes defended.

— MWSU Athletics —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – After earning back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 1997-98, Griffon Volleyball has placed five members on the All-MIAA team.

Jessie Thorup and Jordan Chohon repeated as first team selections, while Rachel Friedrichs was named second team and Lindsey Partridge and Kayla Ruff were named honorable mention. Missouri Western finished the regular season 21-9 and 12-6 in MIAA play, earning the No. 5 seed in the MIAA Tournament. The Griffons begin the postseason Thursday night at 7 p.m. when they play at fourth-seeded Washburn.

FIRST TEAM
Jessie Thorup, outside hittter
Missouri Western’s all-time kills leader in the rally scoring era finished up her Griffon career with her second straight first team selection and third All-MIAA selection overall. An honorable mention pick as a freshman, Thorup led Missouri Western with 345 kills this season, 3.75 per set. Her 1,176 career kills are the most since the NCAA switched to rally scoring and place her 12th all-time at MWSU. Thorup hit .215 this season and finished her career averaging 3.13 kills per set with a .244 career hitting percentage.

Jordan Chohon, setter
Chohon became a two-time first team selection after finishing 6th in the MIAA with 10.39 assists per set. Chohon averaged 8.5 assists per set in her career with 3,416 total assists, which is fourth all-time at MWSU. The senior set career highs this season with 107 kills, 28 service aces and 305 digs.

SECOND TEAM
Rachel Friedrichs, middle blocker
The freshman earned her first All-MIAA selection and established herself as a new threat for the Griffons. Friedrichs finished eighth in the MIAA, averaging 0.92 total blocks per set. Her 97 total blocks ranked fifth in the conference. She also helped the Missouri Western offense with 226 kills for a 2.13 kill/set average, good for third on the team. Her .290 attack percentage was a team high and her 22 service aces were second most.

HONORABLE MENTION
Lindsey Partridge, middle blocker
Partridge earned her first All-MIAA selection after posting career-highs in kills (190), attack percentage (.280) and total blocks (90). The senior ranked eighth in the MIAA in total blocks and ninth in blocks per set. Her 12 kills at Emporia State this season were the most in her career along with eight blocks at Fort Hays this year.

Kayla Ruff, libero
The transfer picked up her first All-MIAA selection after finishing fourth in the MIAA with 515 total digs and sixth with a 4.81 dig/set average. Ruff finished tied with Chohon for the most service aces (28) on the team and ninth in the MIAA in that category.

Shellby Taylor, outside hitter
Taylor joined fellow freshman Friedrichs on the All-MIAA team. She was second on the team with 229 kills and a 2.16 kill/set average. She hit .212 in her first college season. Taylor also finished the year with 74 total blocks, averaging .70 per set and a .960 receiving percentage.

— MWSU Athletics —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Missouri Western wide receiver Brandynn Clark has been named MIAA Special Teams Athlete of the Week for his play last Saturday in the Griffons 63-21 win over Missouri Southern.

The senior from Macedonia, Ohio totaled 184 return yards, including an 82-yard punt return for a touchdown. Clark returned seven punts for 132 yards and two kickoffs for 52 yards. His punt return TD was the team’s first since Derek Libby did it in 2013. Clark’s 14.3 yard per punt return average led the MIAA this season.

Clark also had four receptions for 39 yards as he helped Missouri Western finish with a 6-5 record, their 11th consecutive winning season.

— MWSU Athletics —

ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western volleyball team will make its first postseason appearance since 2013 on Tuesday night when the team travels to Topeka, Kansas to take on Washburn in the first round of the MIAA Tournament.

The Griffons finished the regular season with a 21-9 overall record and a 12-6 mark in MIAA play. Missouri Western earned the fifth seed in the tournament and Washburn the fourth. The Griffons’ 21 wins gave the team back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 1997 and 98. They face a Washburn team that swept the regular season series and enters the week ranked 14th in the nation.

Tuesday’s match will begin at 7 p.m. at Lee Arena in Topeka. Semifinal matches and the championship game will be played on Friday and Saturday at the site of the highest remaining seed. Central Oklahoma won the regular season title and is the No. 1 seed. Central Missouri is the two and Nebraska-Kearney the three seed. Fort Hays State, Northwest Missouri and Emporia State rounded out the eight-team field.

— MWSU Athletics —

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – In a game that prompted a look back through the record books, the Missouri Western football team dominated Missouri Southern 63-21 on senior day at Spratt Stadium Saturday.

It was the first time since 2007 Missouri Western defeated Missouri Southern at Spratt Stadium and the Griffons’ 63 points were the most since scoring 63 at Central Oklahoma on Oct. 5, 2013. Missouri Western jumped out to a 28-0 lead on two Josh Caldwell touchdown runs, a 69-yard touchdown reception by Dee Toliver and an 82-yard punt return for a touchdown by Brandynn Clark. The punt return TD by Clark was the first for Missouri Western since Derek Libby did it at Central Oklahoma in 2013.

The Griffon offense came 26 yards short of the team’s first 600-yard offensive output since 2011, finishing with 81 plays for 574 yards. Missouri Western rushed for 294 yards, getting 128 from Raphael Spencer and 121 from Caldwell. The Griffon defense limited Missouri Southern to just 51 yards on the ground. DiJuan Ussery caught five passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns, the team’s first player with two receiving TDs in a game since Reggie Jordan in 2013. Skyler Windmiller finished the game 15 of 27 passing for 280 yards and three touchdowns.

Missouri Western scored 21 points off of Missouri Southern turnovers, picking off the Lions three times. Jonathan Owens, Darrian Bass and Yomi Alli all finished with eight total tackles. Owens had one of the interceptions along with Sam Brown and Elroy Douglas. Douglas returned his 40 yards for a touchdown, the team’s first pick-6 since Michael Jordan did it at Washburn last season. The defense sacked TJ Fleeton three times.

Missouri Western finished the season 6-5 for a seventh consecutive winning season and six wins or more for an 11th season.

— MWSU Athletics —

ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western men’s basketball team nearly did what they made a habit of last season in their second game of the 2015-16 season: coming back from a double-digit, second half deficit, but ultimately fell 86-78 to Upper Iowa Saturday inside the MWSU Fieldhouse.

Missouri Western trailed by 14 with 5:08 left in the game, but went on a 10-0 run to pull within four. The first five points of the run were all free throws, three by Mataika Koyamainavure and two by Wes Mitter. Currie Byrd made it a four-point Upper Iowa lead with 3:07 to go when he sank a three pointer, to give him 15 for the game. Upper Iowa stretched the lead to six on a layup, but then fouled Trey Sampson on a three-point attempt. The transfer sunk all three free throws to pull the Griffons within three with 2:28 remaining. After a jumper by the Peacocks, Miles Wentzein scored his first points of the game, a three with 1:51 left to make it a two-point game but Upper Iowa would score the final six points, four on free throws to hang on for the win.

Missouri Western shot 38 percent from the field for the game and 29 percent from the three-point line. They had 40 rebounds to Upper Iowa’s 37. Koyamainavure led the Griffons with 17 points and nine rebounds. Sampson finished with 14 points and seven rebounds. Cole Clearman added 12 points, nine on three made three pointers.

The loss dropped Missouri Western to 1-1 on the year. The team returns to the fieldhouse for its next game, next Saturday, Nov. 21 to host the University of Saint Mary (Kan.).

— MWSU Athletics —

MARSHALL, Minn. – Five members of the Missouri Western women’s basketball team scored in double figures Saturday and the team scored 56 points in the second half as they defeated Upper Iowa 89-80 at the Southwest Minnesota State/Applebee’s Classic.

Missouri Western shot 61 percent from the field – 56 percent from three-point range – in the second half after shooting 40 percent from the field and missing all five first half three point tries. Sarafina Handy scored 12 in the second half after two in the first to finish with 14 points.

Julia Torres-Alves led the Griffons with 18 points on eight of 12 shooting and added eight rebounds  before she fouled out. Miliakere Koyamainavure had a double-double for Missouri Western with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Chelsea Dewey added 12 points as did Dwanisha Tate.

The win improved Missouri Western to 2-0 on the season. The team will return to St. Joseph for its home opener next Thursday, Nov. 19 to face Minnesota State-Mankato at 6 p.m.

— MWSU Athletics —

ST. CHARLES, Mo. – The Missouri Western volleyball team fell in three sets at Lindenwood to end the 2015 regular season Saturday. Missouri Western finished the season 21-9 overall and 12-6 in the MIAA. The team has already clinched a spot in the MIAA Tournament and would appear to enter Tuesday’s first round game as the fifth seed, likely visiting Washburn.

Missouri Western was held to a .147 hitting percentage, with 16 attack errors on 102 total attempts. The Griffons had 31 kills to Lindenwood’s 47 and two blocks to Lindenwood’s eight. Blair Russell, Lindsey Partridge and Rachel Friedrichs all finished with seven kills, team highs. Russell led the Griffons with 10 digs.

MIAA Tournament pairings will be announced Sunday. Should Missouri Western travel to Washburn, it will face a nationally ranked team that swept the Griffons in the regular season, 3-1 and 3-0 respectively.

— MWSU Athletics —