Joplin, Mo. – The Missouri Southern volleyball team hang tight with No. 6 Northwest Missouri, but the Lions fell in three sets to the Bearcats today inside Young Gymnasium. Individual set scores were 26-28, 11-25 and 18-25.
 
The Lions (3-20, 0-13 MIAA) were led by Sophie Mader with 19 assists and nine digs. Armyni Perales had seven kills and a pair of blocks, while Amelia Neels had seven blocks and an ace. Emily-Kate Lonergan had six kills and two blocks, while Brooklynn McCain had 11 digs. Kierson Maydew had four kills and two blocks, while Mader added a pair of blocks, as well.
 
Northwest Missouri (18-2, 11-1 MIAA) picked up 13 kills from Kelsey Havel, while Alyssa Rezac dished out 37 assists.
 
The first set was back-and-forth as the opener featured 14 ties and four lead changes. The Lions opened up a 14-11 lead midway through the set, but the Bearcats scored three-straight to tie it up and force a Lions' timeout.
 
The Lions pushed and scored three-straight of their own and eventually led 23-20 to force a Northwest timeout. The Bearcats scored three-straight out of the timeout to tie it at 23, but the Lions had set point at 25-24, before Northwest tied it again at 25 and at 26. The Bearcats, however, scored the final two points to take the set.
 
Set two featured a pair of tied scores and lead changes, but all were in the first seven points. The Bearcats led 14-6 midway through and cruised to the win.
 
Set three saw the Lions go back-and-forth with the bearcats until Northwest scored-three-straight to lead 9-6 early on. The lead was 13-7 for the Bearcats, but the Lions scored three of the next four points to get within four (14-10) but that would be as close as Southern got.
 
The Lions will be back in action on Tuesday at Central Oklahoma, before heading to Central Missouri on Thursday.