Joplin, Mo. – The Missouri Southern Volleyball team completed the sweep of its weekly matches as the Lions took out Emporia State, three sets to two. Individual set scores were 25-17, 21-25, 24-26, 25-16 and 21-19.
 
Southern (8-8, 3-4 MIAA) had four players in double-figures for kills, led by 18 kills and a .548 attack average from Amelia Neels. Neels added three blocks. Fernanda Canedo had 19 kills and 11 digs, while adding three blocks.
 
Sophie Mader had a career-high 60 assists, while Kierson Maydew added 14 kills and 17 digs. Jaryn Benning had ten kills. Abbie Casper had a career-high 43 digs on the afternoon. 
 
ESU (4-13, 1-7 MIAA) had 17 kills each from Megan Stretton and Leah Mach.
 
The Lions won set one as a kill from Neels early on gave Southern a 6-5 lead they wouldn't relinquish.
 
Sets two and three went to the Hornets, but set four was all Lions. Canedo picked up a kill to give the Lions a 7-6 lead and the Lions would close the set on an 18-10 run.
 
Set five saw the Lions lead 8-6 at the turn and 10-6, before the Hornets went on a 6-2 run to tie the set at 12. The two teams traded points back-and-forth before a kill from Maydew and an error from the Hornets ended the match.
 
The Lions hit .247 in the match and had 66 assists on 70 kills.
 
Southern will be back in action on Tuesday night as the Lions play host to Pittsburg State at 6 pm from the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.