The Missouri Western volleyball team fell 3-1 (25-21,16-25, 30-28, 25-21)  in a tough road MIAA contest against the Fort Hays State Tigers (18-6, 4-3 MIAA). The Griffons were led by Sarah Faubel with 13 kills while Brooke Cousino pitched in 20 digs. MWSU falls to 12-9 overall and 3-5 in MIAA play.

The Griffons never led in the first set falling 25-21. MWSU hit .186 overall in the first set with 15 kills on 43 attempts. The Tigers had hit .317 with 16 kills on 41 attempts.

In set two the Griffons used runs of 9-5 and 8-1 taking a 19-12 lead after a Faubel service ace. MWSU closed the set on a 6-4 run with Stephanie Hattey closing it out with a kill. With the match tied at one the two teams would prepare for a third set which would not disappoint.

The teams went back and forth but unfortunatly the Griffons came up short falling 30-28. In set four the Griffons fell 25-21 losing in four sets.

Jessie Thorup finished the night with 12 kills Stephanie Hattey and Jordan Chohon finished with 24 and 23 set assists respectively. Faubel, Torey Lyman and Hattey finished with 12, 12 and 17 digs respectively.

The Tigers were led by Madison Schwartz with 17 kills while Jenna Ulrich pitched in 16. Kayla Zoglman finished with 49 set assists and 24 digs.

The Griffons return to MIAA action on Saturday, October 13 against the University of Central Oklahoma in St. Joseph, Mo. Match time is set for 7:00 pm in the MWSU Fieldhouse.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western football team continues to climb in the AFCA top 25 Division II coaches poll moving up one spot to 4th.

The Griffons are off to their best start under head coach Jerry Partridge after defeating Northeastern State University 45-31 last Saturday in Talequah, Okla.  Western is also off to its best start since 1981 when they opened the season 7-0.

Missouri Western returns home on Saturday, October 13 to take on the Missouri Southern Lions in their homecoming game.  Kickoff is set for 1:30 pm from Spratt Stadium in St. Joseph, Mo.  Coach Partridge is 10-5 against the Lions winning the last game 35-23 on October 1, 2011 in Joplin, Mo.

MWSU is 6-0 overall and 5-0 in MIAA play. The Griffons have been ranked in the top 25 in the last 14 polls and have received votes in 32 of the last 36 coaches polls. Under Partridge this is the seventh time the Griffons have been ranked in the top-10 and first time that MWSU has started 6-0 (2012).

Click here to view the entire AFCA Top 25 poll.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western women’s golf team sits in second after round one of the Bearcat Fall Golf Classic which is being played at Mozingo Lake Golf Classic.

The Griffons fired a round one 340 after thunderstorms delayed the start from 10:00 am to 1:30 pm.  MWSU sits nine strokes back of leader Northwest Missouri State who fired a 331. MWSU sits five strokes ahead of William Jewell who fired a 345.

Callie Wilson sits in second place firing a round one 80. Wilson is just two strokes back of leader Cassie Lowell of Northwest Missouri State who fired a 78.

Natalie Bird and Shelby Stone sit in a tie for 7th firing 86 while Casi Webb sits in a tie for 13th with an 88. Anna Kloeppel rounds out the Griffons with a 90. Two Griffons played as individual’s with Amber Chivington finising with a 90 while Darcey Smith fired a 95.

The final round will be played Friday with a shotgun start at 9:00 am.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western men’s golf team finished in 6th place at the Lindenwood Invitational which was held at the Whitmoor Country Club in St. Charles, Mo.

The Griffons fired a two round total of 624 (309-315) which was six strokes back of 5th place Washburn, 618 (306-312). Host school Lindenwood won the event with a 606 (310-296) which was four strokes better than Central Missouri’s 610 (292-318).

Griffon sophomore James O’Brien paved the way for MWSU with a 7-over 151 (74-77) which put him in a tie for 11th. Weston Apple fired  a two day total of 154 (79-75) placing 17th while Tyler Gast finished in a tie for 26th with a 158 (76-82). Scott Sheldon and Derek Hawkins finished firing 162 (81-81) and 164 (80-84) respectively. Evan McCarthy who fired a 77 on day one did not compete on day two.

Cy Mortiz of Central Missouri was the medalist winning in a playoff over teammate Robby Hughey.

The Griffons will be in action next on October 15-16 when they host the MWSU Invitational at the St. Joseph Country Club. This will mark the final event of the fall for the Griffons.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western football team moved up two spots in the latest AFCA Division II top 25 poll as they are now ranked fifth in the country.

The number five ranking is the highest ever for a Griffon football team in the AFCA poll and it’s the sixth time under Jerry Partridge they’ve been ranked in the top 10.

Western is 5-0 and 4-0 in the MIAA after a 45-23 victory against Central Oklahoma last Saturday.  This is the second time during Partridge’s tenure that the Griffons have started a season 5-0 with the other coming in 2009.

There are four other teams from the MIAA ranked in the AFCA top 25.  Pittsburg State remains number one in the nation, while Northwest Missouri State is eighth, Washburn comes in at No. 20 and Emporia State is ranked for the first time since 2003 as they are 25th this week.

Missouri Western will play all four of those teams during their final six games of the 2012 season.

The Griffons are back on the road this Saturday for a MIAA contest against Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.  The kickoff is at 2:00 p.m. inside Doc Wadley Stadium and the game can be heard on the Griffon Sports Network (680 KFEQ & 1360 KMRN).

Click here to view the entire AFCA Division II Top 25.