ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western volleyball fell just a few points short of upsetting No. 9 ranked Central Missouri in their home opener on Friday. MWSU lost 15-13 in the fifth set, coming up just short of the upset.

The Griffons began their first set in the newly-renovated MWSU Fieldhouse with a 25-21 win. Central Missouri was held to its lowest hitting percentage of the match at .111. The Jennies turned around and won the second match 25-17 as the Griffons struggled offensively, hitting their worst percentage of the match in that set.

The third set was all Griffons as they dominated by a score of 25-9. Leading Missouri Western in that set and throughout the night was Shellby Taylor. Taylor put together one of her best statistical performances of the season as she tallied 15 kills and three blocks.

The Jennies took the fourth and fifth sets to escape out of St. Joseph with the win.

Stephanie Doak was the team leader with 18 kills for the Griffons. Ali Tauchen made big plays in key moments throughout the night. She finished the match with 14 kills and three digs. Lauren Murphy led all players with 49 assists and Audrey Keim led all players with 31 digs.

Again, Friday night’s match was Griffon fans’ first chance to see the new-look MWSU Fieldhouse. The renovated facility now features black and gold painted walls, new bleacher and chair-back seating, and a Missouri Western Athletics Hall of Fame wall. Friday night was also the unveiling of Missouri Western’s 2017 MIAA Championship and Regional Semifinalist banners. Missouri Western President Dr. Robert Vartabedian and Director of Athletics Josh Looney showcased the new banners for Griffon fans and players during the pregame ceremony.

The Griffons will look to rebound Saturday as they face Lindenwood at 2:00 p.m. inside the MWSU Fieldhouse.

— MWSU Athletics —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The MIAA announced Wednesday afternoon that Missouri Western senior Shi Qing Ong has been named the MIAA Women’s Golf Athlete of the Week. Ong received the award based on her performance at the NSU Women’s Golf Classic in Tahlequah, Oklahoma earlier in the week.

Ong placed second overall in the NSU Classic, finishing +2 with an overall score of 145. Out of the 90 golfers at the event, Ong was the top finisher from the MIAA. She was named to the NSU Classic All-Tournament Team and was just two strokes shy of tying the tournament score record.

Ong won MIAA Women’s Golf Athlete of the Week eight times last academic year. Ong and the Griffons’ next tournament will be the Augustana Fall Invitational on September 29.

— MWSU Athletics —

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Missouri Western senior Shi Qing Ong placed second overall in the NSU Women’s Golf Classic on Tuesday finishing +2 with an overall score of 145. The Griffons finished fifth as a team, jumping up two spots after sitting in seventh after round one.

The Griffons’ first tournament of the season was cut short due to inclement weather, so the NSU Classic was their first chance to compete in a tournament from start to finish. Ong shot a +3 in the second round after finishing the first round one under par. Her overall score of 145 earned her a second-place finish out of the 90 golfers competing at the event. Her impressive finish also earned her a spot on the NSU Classic All-Tournament Team. Ong’s final score was only two strokes short of tying the tournament record.

Chong Yong also put together an impressive final round for the Griffons. Yong shot a 76 in the first round, which sat her tied for 19th on the leaderboards. She finished round two with a score of 74, tying with Ong for the team’s best score of the day. Her play in the second round jumped her all the way into the top-10, as she finished tied for 9th place with an overall score of 150.

Nina Lee finished in the top-25, finishing tied for 23rd with a score of 155.

Griffon Women’s Golf will be away from competition until they travel to the Augustana Fall Invitational on September 29.

— MWSU Athletics —

WARRENSBURG – Missouri Western junior Patrick McCarthy put together an impressive final round at the Mule Invitational in Warrensburg on Tuesday, finishing with a 68 in the final round of the tournament. McCarthy took sixth and was the top finisher for the Griffons. MWSU placed tenth as a team in the tournament.

McCarthy came into Tuesday tied for 14th place before putting together one of the best third rounds at the tournament, going -2 on the day. McCarthy ended the event with an overall score of 209 and finished one shot under par on his first action of the season.

Newcomer Jett Simmons was the next-best finisher for the Griffons. Simmons shot a 72 in the final round and ended with an overall score of 217. Lucas Horseman shot a 220 for the Griffons

Missouri Western will travel again next week for the NSU Men’s Golf Classic on September 17.

— MWSU Athletics —

WARRENSBURG – Missouri Western Men’s Golf teed off for the first time in the 2018 season in the first two rounds of the Mule Invitational on Monday.

The Griffons shot 574 and are currently in seventh at the event, but sit just two shots out of fifth place. The Griffons are facing a large field in their first tournament of the season, with 18 total teams competing in the event.

Junior Patrick McCarthy was the top Griffon golfer in the first two rounds. McCarthy jumped up the leaderboards in the second round, going from 29th to now tied for 14th. His 69 in the second round puts him at +1 going into day two.

Lucas Horseman is the next Griffon on the leaderboards and sits at +3. Freshman Jett Simmons has also had a strong showing in his first collegiate tournament. Simmons shot +5 and also has the second-most pars at the event with 28.

The third and final round of the Mule Invitational begins at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday.

— MWSU Athletics —