Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern volleyball team swept the visiting Pittsburg State Gorillas three sets to none this afternoon in a Trophy Series match between the two schools. Individual set scores were 28-26, 25-18, and 25-23.
Southern (2-16, 1-6 MIAA) was led offensively by
Bridgette Jaeger as the freshman had 14 kills and six digs, hitting .257 in the match.
Payton Graves continued her hot-hitting as the senior hit .320 with 12 kills and six blocks.
Callie Whetstone hit .636 with eight kills and two blocks, while
Abby Finder dished out 36 assists.
Katie Wiele had a team-high 10 digs.
Pitt (1-17, 1-6 MIAA) was led by eight kills from Lana DaSilva.
In set one, the Lions had a 23-21 lead late, forcing a PSU timeout, the second in two points and Pitt scored a pair of points out of the break to tie the set at 23. Both teams traded points until the Lions scored the final two capped off by a kill from Whetstone.
Southern took a 9-8 lead early on in the second set and cruised to the win. In the final frame, both teams traded points as there were 13 tied scores and six lead changes. The Lions took a 22-20 lead on a kill from Jaeger to force a PSU timeout. After PSU tied the set at 23, Southern scored the final two points capped off on a kill from Jaeger.
The Lions will be back in action next weekend as Southern travels to Central Missouri and Lindenwood.
