The Missouri Western volleyball team played tough in a 3-2 (19-25, 25-23, 23-25, 25-20, 12-15) loss against the Truman University Bulldogs. Western hit the ball well accumulating 64 kills and 27 errors in 179 attacks for a percentage of .209. Western falls to 9-9 overall and 2-4 in MIAA action.

Western found themselves withstanding an onslaught early in game one, being down by as many as 11 points at one point. However, the Lady Griffons battled back to within four points, bringing the score to 19-23. Unfortunately they would lose the next two points and drop the first game 19-25.  In game two, the Lady Griffons carried over their momentum from late in game one to open with a quick 4-1 lead. The Bulldogs battled back, but Western maintained control not allowing Truman to get within two points the rest of the game, winning 25-23.

Western came out of the break determined to take a lead in the match, and came very close to getting ahead 2-1, but dropped game three at the very end. It was a closely contested game, neither team taking a lead of more than four points. The Lady Griffons pulled ahead late in the game 23-22, but allowed the Bulldogs to score three unanswered points to take game three 23-25. Western came out flat in game four, finding themselves in a quick 4-1 hole. However, the Lady Griffons battled back and quickly took control of the game late to pull ahead 18-17. Carrying on this momentum, Western took game four 25-20, outscoring Truman 7-3 the rest of the way.

In the critical game five, Western opened with a quick lead of 4-1. It wasn’t enough however as Truman came roaring back to take the lead at 7-6. The Lady Griffons tried to stop Truman and battle back, but it wasn’t enough as the Bulldogs took the final game of the match 15-12.

Alex Behnke hit .419 in the match with 15 kills on 31 attempts. Western had 74 digs in the match with Hattey accumulating 20 digs and 58 set assists.

The Bulldogs hit .251 in the match with 63 kills. Molly Sinclair let the way for the Bulldogs with 20 kills while Kylie Easlon accumulated 26 set assists. Abby Moser had 33 of the Bulldogs 78 digs.

Western will play their third of four straight road matches on Tuesday, October 11, when they travel to Quincy, Il. to take on the Quincy University Hawks. Match time is set for 7:00 pm in Pepsi Arena.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western volleyball team played tough in a 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-22) loss against the 8th ranked Jennies of Central Missouri. Western hit the ball well accumulating 42 kills in 119 attacks for a percentage of .210. Western falls to 9-8 overall and 2-3 in MIAA action.

Western played set one close for the first 19 points trailing the high powered Jennies 10-9 after a kill by Stephanie Hattey. The Jennies controlled the rest of the way defeating the Griffons 25-17. Set two was close midway through with the Griffons trailing by three after a Tahler Johnston kill. The Jennies outscored the Griffons 8-4 down the stretch taking the 25-18 victory in set two and a 2-0 lead in the match.

Western came out of the break determined leading set three most of the way. Western led 21-18 after an attack error by UCM’s Paula Harris. The Jennies showed their dominance down the stretch outscoring the Grifofns 7-1 taking the 25-22 victory in the set and the three match victory. The Jennies improve to 15-3 overall and 6-0 in MIAA action.

Alex Behnke hit .579 in the match with 11 kills on 19 attempts. Western had 54 digs in the match with Hattey accumulating 13 digs and 35 set assists.

The Jennies hit .366 in the match with 54 kills. Allie Huffman had 19 kills while Julia Bates accumulated 41 set assists. Taylor Krejci had 14 of the Jennies 53 digs.

Western will play their second of four straight road matches tomorrow when they travel to Kirksville, Mo. to take on the Truman State Bulldogs. Match time is set for 7:00 pm in Pershing Arena.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western women’s golf team took first at the Bearcat Fall Golf Classic hosted by Northwest Missouri State at the Mozingo Lake Golf Course. Western shot a two round total of 678 (335-343) 17 strokes better than Northwest Missouri State’s 695 (353-342).

Rockhurst University finished in third with a 721 (355-366) while William Jewell and Ottawa finished in fourth and fifth with 733 (363-370) and 833 (414-419) respectively.

The winner of the event was Cassie Lowell of Northwest Missouri State firing a two round total of 162 (81-81) four strokes better than William Jewell’s Chloe Kittle’s 166 (81-85). Shelby Stone of Western finished third with a 167 (85-82).

Four other Griffons finished in the top-10 with Casi Webb finishing in 6th with a 172 (87-85). Natalie Bird and Kristen Cooley fired 173’s tying for seventh while Darcy Smith fired a 176 tying for 10th. Britni Nikes, Lauryn Huske-Davies and Sarah Campbell played individually firing 187, 193 and 196 respectively.

The Griffons will compete next at the Park University Fall Classic in Parkville, Mo. The event will be played on Monday, October 10 and Tuesday, October 11 at The Duece @ The National in Parkville, Mo.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western women’s golf team holds an 18 stroke lead after day one of the Bearcat Fall Golf Classic hosted by Northwest Missouri State University. The Griffons fired 335 on a windy day at the par-72 Mozingo Lake Golf Course. Host school Northwest Missouri State sits in second with a 353 while Rockhurst is third with a 355.

William Jewell and Ottawa sit in fourth and fifth with a 363 and 414 respectively. Graceland University did not qualify for team scoring as Carolina Fonseca and Nicolette Westmoland withdrew from competition.

Griffon golfer Natalie Bird sits in a tie for second with Northwest’s Cassie Lowell and William Jewell’s Chloe Kittle firing 81’s. The leader of the event is Emily Gonderinger of Rockhurst University firing a round one of 80.

Kristen Cooley sits in fifth with an 82 while Shelby Stone and Casi Webb sit in sixth and a tie for eighth with 85 and 87 respectively. Darcy Smith sits in a tie for 16th with a 91. Individually Britni Nikes, Sarah Campbell and Lauryn Huske Davies finished with rounds of 92, 96 and 96 respectively.

The final round of the classic will be a shotgun start, beginning at 9 am on Friday morning.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western women’s soccer team struggled in Kirksville, Mo. Tuesday against the Truman State University Bulldogs in MIAA soccer action falling 1-0. Western falls to 3-5 on the season and 0-2 in MIAA action.

Despite having a slow first period the Griffons were able to go into halftime tied at zero with the Bulldogs. Western was unable to get a shot off in the first frame while the Bulldogs blasted 18 in the direction of Griffon goalie Kelly Voigts. Voigts made seven saves in the frame while the Griffons battled off one Bulldog corner kick.

Both teams had two fouls while Truman was offside’s twice in the opening half.  Olivia Hays led the Bulldogs as all three of her shots made it on goal. Kelsey Twellman had four shots for the Bulldogs.

The second half did not get any better for the Griffons as the Bulldogs blasted 16 more shots at Voigts. Voigts did an outstanding job on the day making 12 saves falling to 3-5 on the season.

The Bulldogs got the game winner in the 62nd minute when Jaclyn Schumann scored her second goal of the season off a double pass from Olivia Hayes and Twellman. Truman improves to 5-4-2 overall and 3-0 in MIAA play. The Bulldogs had five corner kicks and 10 fouls in the match.

The Griffons return to MIAA action on Saturday, October 8 with a road trip to Bolivar, Mo. to take on the Southwest Baptist Bearcats. Game time is set for 2:00 pm from the SBU soccer field.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western men’s golf team finished in a tie for 5th place at the SBU Invitational in Bolivar, Mo. The event is being played at Silo Ridge Golf & Country Club. Western and Central Baptist shot exact rounds finishing with a team total of 607 (302-305) which is two strokes better than Lincoln’s 609 (308-301) and five strokes back of Fort Hays State’s 602 (303-299). (303). Central Missouri won the MIAA sanctioned event with a two round total of 572 (281-291).

Lindenwood finished in second with a 577 (282-295) while Washburn finished 3rd with a 583 (291-292). Central Missouri B, Missouri Southern State, Southwest Baptist and Pittsburg State finished 8th-11th respectively with scores of 622, 627, 628 and 629.

The winner of the event was Justin Burns of Central Baptist with a two day total of 139 (71-68). He finished two strokes better than Lincoln’s Steven Mallow’s 141 (70-71). Tyler Gast finished in a tie for 9th with a 145 (70-75).

Kenney Stone and Logan Gilliland finished in a tie for 24th with 153’s while James O’Brien and Derek Hawkins shot 159 and 160 respectively. Scott Sheldon was the only individual for the Griffons firing a 162 (81-81).

The Griffons wrap up the fall next Monday and Tuesday when they take part in the Park University Fall Invitational. The event will be played at The Duece @ The National in Parkville, Mo.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western men’s golf team sits in a tie for 4th place after play Monday at the SBU Invitational in Bolivar, Mo. The event is being played at Silo Ridge Golf & Country Club. Western and Central Baptist shot a team total of 302 which is one stroke better than Fort Hays State (303) and 11 strokes back of third place Washburn (291) in the MIAA sanctioned event.

Central Missouri leads the event with a 281 which is one stroke better than second place Lindenwood (282). Lincoln sits in 7th with a 308 while Southwest Baptist is in 8th with a 309. Central Missouri B, Missouri Southern State and Pittsburg State round out the field with 311, 315 and 318 respectively.

The leader of the even is Jared King of Central Missouri firing a 4-under par 68 while Paul Colditz of Lindenwood sits in second with a 3-under 69. Tyler Gast of Western sits in a tie for third with Steven Mallow of Lincoln with 2-under par 70’s.

Kenny Stone is in a tie for 23 with a 76 while Logan Gilliland and James O’Brien sit in a tie for 32nd with 78’s. Derek Hawkins rounds out the Griffon squad with an 82.

The final round will be played tomorrow, Tuesday, October 4.

— MWSU Sports Information —