Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern volleyball team got a pair of career-highs from Armyni Perales and Bonnie Hegarty, but hte Lions couldn't quite complete the comeback in a 3-1 loss at home to Central Oklahoma. Individual set scores were 16-25, 20-25, 25-14 and 24-26. 

The Lions (3-9, 0-3 MIAA) got a career-high 20 kills from Armyni Perales and 15 from Bonnie Hegarty, while Sophie Mader dished out 45 assists. Brooklynn McCain had 21 digs, while Kierson Maydew had 16 and Amelia Neels had 15. 

UCO (11-2, 4-1 MIAA) got 11 kills from Brynn Egger and ten each from Jenna Karp and Lauren Jenkins. 

Set one saw ten ties and four lead chances, but the Bronchos took control midway through and after a timeout from UCO, they went on a 14-3 run to end the set. Set two saw eight ties and five lead changes. The Lions tied it up at 11 midway through and took an 18-17 lead late to force a timeout from the Bronchos. UCO turned it around out of the timeout and went ona 6-3 run to lead 23-20 and force a Lions' timeout and the Bronchos scored the final two points to take the 2-0 early lead.

Set three was all Lions. Southern led from start to finish and a 7-1 run to open the set forced a Bronchos' timeout. The Lions led 14-7 after a kill from Irina Alekseeva to force another UCO timeout and an 11-7 run closed out the set for Southern. 

Set four was back-and-forth. The two teams had 12 ties and seven lead changes in the frame. UCO took a 13-11 lead midway to force a Lions' timeout and Southern scored five of the next six points out of the timeout to force a UCO timeout, leading 16-14. UCO led 22-21 late and forced a Southern timeout, but the Lions came right back and tied the score at 23 to force a Bronchos' timeout. The Lions had set point at 24-23, but UCO scored two of the final three points to take the set and the match. 

The Lions will be back in action on Friday as Southern steps out of MIAA play to host William Jewell. First serve from Young Gymnasium is set for 6 pm.