Maryville, Mo. – The Missouri Southern volleyball team took the opening set at No. 13 Northwest Missouri State, but the Lions couldn't complete the upset bid as Southern fell three sets to one tonight inside Bearcat Arena.
 
Individual set scores were 25-23, 17-25, 16-25 and 21-25.
 
Southern (10-14, 5-10 MIAA) picked up a pair of double-double's from both Fernanda Canedo and Sophie Mader. Canedo finished with 19 kills and 13 digs, while Mader dished out 42 assists and had 22 digs.
 
Abbie Casper had 24 digs, while Irina Alekseeva had 12 kills and Amelia Neels posted nine kills and four blocks.
 
Northwest Missouri (18-5, 12-3 MIAA) had three in double-figures for kills, led by 18 from Payton Kirshhoefer.
 
Set one was back-and-forth, but the Lions took a 13-11 lead midway after an ace from Mader. Northwest tied the set at 13, and again at 16 and went ahead 17-16. The Bearcats led 21-19 late, but the Lions scored three-straight points to go up 22-21 before Northwest tied it again at 22. Southern notched three of the final four points to take the opening set on a kill from Canedo.
 
Sets two and three belonged to the Bearcats.
 
Set four saw the Lions open up a 5-2 lead to open the frame, but the Bearcats came back to tie the set at five. Southern led 8-6 and again 11-7, before leading 16-13 late. The Lions' lead was 18-16, but the Bearcats went on a 7-1 run to take a 23-19 lead. MSSU got within three (24-21) but couldn't complete the comeback.
 
The Lions will be back in action next week as Southern is at Emporia State on Wednesday and at Washburn on Thursday.