Sep 15, 2019

Griffon volleyball defeats Colorado Mesa, then fall to No. 7 Northern State

Posted Sep 15, 2019 4:32 AM

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - A quick three-set win Saturday morning against Colorado Mesa (4-4) gave the Missouri Western volleyball team its first 6-1 start since the 2006 season. The Griffons closed out the Drury Invitational with a four-set loss to No. 7 Northern State to come home 6-2.


MATCH 1

Missouri Western 3, Colorado Mesa 0 (25-23, 25-16, 25-19)

Missouri Western swept its second opponent receiving votes in the AVCA Division II poll in as many days. Behind a .320 hitting percentage, 49 digs and 40 assists, the Griffons hit their best record through the first seven games of a season in 13 years.


NOTABLES

  • Both teams were efficient offensively in a 25-23 first set. MWSU hit .394 with 16 kills on 33 attempts while the Mavericks hit .392 with 19 kills on 43 attempts.
  • The .320 hitting percentage was a season-best for the Griffs and Colorado Mesa failed to become the first team to hit over .200 on the Griffs this year, finishing with a .197
  • Freshman Danielle Moje hit .750 with six kills and two blocks
  • Sam Duncan led the team with 10 kills
  • Ali Tauchen hit .353 with nine kills
  • Allie Kerns and Maryssa Recio each had eight kills
  • Lauren Murphy had 36 assists and Tiana Butler's 16 digs led the team


MATCH 2

#7 Northern State 3, Missouri Western 1 (25-17, 25-16, 25-21, 25-22)

After the Wolves controlled the first two sets, the Griffs took the third and battled through a back-and-forth, fourth set to almost first the match into an extra set.


NOTABLES

  • Northern State became the first team in 2019 to hit better than .197 against MWSU, going for .349 in the match, including .484 in the first, .480 in the second and .400 in the third.
  • The Wolves posted an 83 sideout percentage in the first, 87% in the second.
  • Three Griffs (Kerns, Tauchen and Recio) finished with double-digit kills, but totaled 47 of the team's 49 kills.
  • Kerns' bested her previous career-high set in her first collegiate match with a team-high 13 kills and matched another career-high with five blocks.
  • MWSU had six aces, three by Jessica Sachen, the team's most since 12 on Sept. 7 against Midwestern State


  • UP NEXTMissouri Western jumps into MIAA play with a trip to current No. 18 Northwest Missouri (6-1) on Sept. 18 before finally making its home debut on Sept. 20 against No. 12 Central Missouri