Pittsburg, Kan. – The Missouri Southern volleyball team got 12 kills from Jaryn Benning and 33 assists from Sophie Mader, but the Lions fell three sets to none tonight at Pittsburg State. Individual set scores were 16-25, 26-28 and 17-25.
 
The Lions (5-7, 0-3 MIAA) had 12 kills and a .375 attack average from Benning, while Amelia Neels had ten kills and hit .438. Mader dished out 33 assists and had eight digs, while Abbie Casper had 16 digs of her own. Kierson Maydew and Josey Goldberg had six kills each.
 
PSU (9-6, 3-3 MIAA) got 14 kills from Janae Thurston.
 
Set one saw two tied scores and one lead change. PSU led 12-6 midway through and 19-12 late, forcing MSSU timeouts at each point. The Lions got to within seven (23-16) late to force a PSU timeout, but couldn't get any closer.
 
Set two saw PSU get out to an 8-2 lead, but the Lions scored 11 of the next 17 points to get within two (15-13) and force a Gorillas' timeout. PSU led 20-15, forcing a Lions' timeout, but Southern fought right back and got within two (22-20) to force a PSU timeout.
 
The Lions tied the set at 22 and led 24-22, but PSU tied the set at 24 and again at 25 and 26, before scoring the final two points to take a 2-0 lead.
 
Set three was back and forth early on, before the Gorillas used a 7-4 run to lead 15-11 midway through and closed out the match.
 
The Lions will be right back at it tomorrow afternoon as Southern plays host to 11^th-ranked Northwest Missouri at 3 pm inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.