Freshman Shelby Corkill led the Griffons to a 3-2 (28-26, 22-25, 25-19, 25-27, 15-9) thrilling victory over the Pittsburg State Gorillas. Corkill finished with a career high 26 kills hitting .309 in the match. Her 26 kills are the most for a Griffon since Lindsay Fuller recorded 28 on September 10, 2003 at Central Missouri. Western improves to 11-11 overall and 4-5 in MIAA play.

The first two sets were very competitive with both teams wining one. Western took set one 28-26 hitting .240 with 18 kills. Corkill and Tahler Johnston each recorded six in the set. The Gorillas led all the way in set two hitting .209 with 12 kills with Brooke Fay collecting six in the set. The Gorillas evened the match up at one with the 25-22 victory.

After two sets the Griffons were hitting .200 with 36 kills. Corkill led the way with 15 while Stephanie Hattey recorded 30 set assists. Sarah Faubel had 15 digs with the Griffons recording 55. The Gorillas were led by Fay with eight of the Gorillas 28 kills after the first two sets.

Western came out of the break on fire forcing the Gorillas into a .000 hitting percentage. With the score tied at 11 the Griffons were able to push outscoring the Gorillas 14-8 earning the 25-19 set victory. Western had 15 kills hitting .171 in the set.

Western looked to be in control of the fourth set being up 20-10 but the Gorillas never gave up closing the match on a 17-5 run tying the set at two with the 27-25 set victory. Set five belonged to the Griffons as they closed the set on an 11-5 run earning the victory and stay undefeated at home on the season.

Western finished the match with 71 kills with Johnston finishing the 20 kills and Alex Behnke chipping in 10. Hattey finished with a career high 60 of the Griffons 68 set assists while Faubel had 23 of the Griffons 89 digs.

The Gorillas had 57 kills with Fay collecting 12 kills. Rebecca Pearson had 34 set assists while Christa McCaw had 36 of their 84 digs. The Gorillas fall to 7-17 overall and 4-7 in MIAA play.

Western returns to action on homecoming Saturday when they host the Southwest Baptist Bearcats on October 22. Game time is set for 7:00 pm from the MWSU Fieldhouse.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western volleyball team snapped a four match losing streak in convincing fashion picking up a 3-0 (25-13, 25-21, 25-12) road victory against the Missouri Southern Lions. This marked the first road victory for the Griffons this season. Alex Behnke had an outstanding match for the Griffons hitting .692 with 10 kills in 13 attacks with just on error. Western improves to 10-11 on the season and to 3-5 in MIAA action.

The Griffons used a 15-2 run allowing the Griffons to run away with set one 25-13. Western hit a remarkable .435 in set one with 14 kills with just four errors in 23 attacks.

Set two was a bit closer as the two teams played to a seven all tie after the first 14 points of the set. From there the Griffons went on a 9-2 run opening up a seven point advantage at 16-9 after an attack error by Katie Politte of Missouri Southern. The Lions closed winning 12 of the final 23 points but it was too late as the Griffons won set two 25-21 while taking a 2-0 lead in the match.

Western closed the match hitting .381 with 13 kills and just four errors in set three. Western forced the Lions into hitting -/125 in the set with just five kills and nine errors. Western took a 7-6 lead after 13 points but took control after that outscoring the Lions 18-6 earning the 25-12 victory and the sweep.

Western had 40 kills hitting a season high .337 with just 11 errors. Stephanie Hattey finished with 35 of the Griffons 37 set assists while Tahler Johnston had 10 of the Griffons 37 digs.

The Lions fall to 4-16 on the season and 2-6 MIAA play. They hit just .065 with 26 kills and 20 errors. Casey Ball finished with 10 kills while Sydney Potts had 20 set assists. Rocky Crook had 13 of the Lions 34 digs.

The Griffons return home for just their third home match of the season when they host the Pittsburg State Gorillas on Friday, October 21 from the MWSU Fieldhouse. Match time is set for 6:30 pm.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Fans can get their first look at the 2011-2012 Griffon men’s and women’s basketball teams on Tuesday, October 25th at 7:30 PM as the 8th Annual Griffon Basketball Tip-Off Party will take place.

The night’s festivities will begin with the traditional basketball game pitting the MWSU Faculty against students from the Student Government Association and local media.  Then, the Griffon men’s and women’s basketball teams will be introduced followed by addresses from both Coach Smith and Coach Plett on the outlook for this years teams.

Both teams will showcase their skills with a short scrimmage followed by a slam dunk contest by the men’s team while the women will compete in a three point contest.

Admission to the event is free with the first 500 fans in attendance receiving free t-shirts, pizza & refreshments.

Western students will also be highly involved in the event competing in various contests for gift cards and cash prizes with the grand finale of the evening featuring one lucky student having the opportunity to make a half-court shot for $10,000.  Western spirit groups will also give performances.

Practice for both teams begins this Friday, October 15.

Exhibition play opens up for both teams on Thursday, November 3rd as they host Livin The Dream in an exhibition doubleheader with women’s tip set for 5:30 PM followed by the men at 7:30 PM.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Missouri Western made 33 hitting errors falling 3-1 (25-19, 21-25, 25-17, 25-19) on the road against regional opponent Quincy University. Alex Behnke and Tahler Johnston finished with 14 kills apiece while Stephanie Hattey finished with 39 set assists. Western falls to 9-10 on the season.

The Griffons struggled in set one getting down 11-2. The Griffons came back cutting the Hawk advantage to 13-12 after an attack error by Christine Williams of Quincy. The rest of the set would belong to Quincy as they went on a 12-6 run winning the set 25-18.

Set two was much better for the Griffons as they hit .355 with just three errors and 14 kills. Western led by as many as eight in the set cruising to the 25-21 victory. The final two sets belonged to the Hawks as Western had 20 combined hitting errors in the two sets. The Hawks had just 17 hitting errors in the whole match and seven combined in set three and four. Quincy won set three 25-17 and set four 25-19. Quincy improved to 8-9 with the victory.

Sarah Faubel led Western with 26 digs while Hattey had two service aces. Hattey also had 12 digs and one kill in the match.

The Hawks finished with 52 kills hitting .259 in the match. Beiann Joslin had 16 kills hitting .433 with only three errors. Lyndsay Kooi had 42 of the Hawks 46 set assists while Damaris Linker had 17 of Quincy’s 54 digs. Quincy also had 10 kills and four service aces.

Western will return to MIAA action on Friday, October 14 when they travel to Hays, Kan. to take on the Fort Hays State Tigers. First serve is set for 7:00 pm in Gross Memorial Coliseum.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western women’s golf team finished in third place at the Park University Fall Invite. The event was played at The Deuce @ The National in Parkville University and is being hosted by Park University. The Western finished three strokes out of second place firing a two round total of 669 (332-337). Grand View University shot a 666 (323-343) while the winner of the event was Fort Hays State University with a 654 (326-328).

Natalie Bird led the charge for Western finishing in 5th with 163 (78-85). Ana Laura Gomez of Bellevue University won the event with an 8-over 148 (75-73) while Samantha Nielsen of Fort Hays State finished in second with a 153 (74-79).

Bellevue University finished in fourth place with a 698 while Park University and Northwest Missouri State University finished fifth and sixth with 698 and 699 respectively.

Shelby Stone finished in sixth for the Griffons with a 164 (80-84) while Kristen Cooley finished in a tie for 12th with a 170 (86-84). Casi Webb and Darcy Smith rounded out the Griffons squad with a 172 and 186 respectively.

Western will play its final tournament of the fall on Sunday, October 23 and Monday, October 24 when they participate in the Truman State University Bulldog Classic in Kirksville, Mo. The event will be played at the Kirksville Country Club.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western men’s golf team finished in third place in their final tournament of the fall. Western played in the Park University Fall invite which was played at The Duece @ The National in Parkville, Mo. The Griffons fired a two round total of 614 (296-318) four strokes better than Bellevue University’s 618 (316-318). The top Griffon finisher was Tyler Gast, tying for 11th with a 152 (72-80).

The winner of the event was Grand View University with a 576 (294-282) which was 13 strokes better than Fort Hays State’s 589 (289-300). Avila University finished 5th with a 624 while Baker fired a 644 finishing in 6th.

Yousaf Khan of Grand View won the event with a 2-over par 142 (77-65) one stroke better than teammate Aaron Ahrendsen and Tom O’Keefe of Fort Hays State. James O’Brien and Derek Hawkins finished in a tie for 15th with a 153 while Logan Gillilan, Scott Shelton and Kenny Stone fired 155, 156 and 162 respectively.

Western wrapped up its fall playing in five events with third being their top finish. They also finished tied for 5th, 7th and 8th.

— MWSU Sports Information —