Joplin, Mo. – The Missouri Southern volleyball took No. 11 ranked Northwest Missouri to the bring in set two, but the Lions couldn't pull away and the Bearcats took the match, three sets to none inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. Individual set scores were 8-25, 26-28 and 16-25.
 
Southern (5-8, 0-4 MIAA) was led by Amelia Neels who had eight kills and three blocks, while hitting .429 in the match. Fernanda Canedo had seven kills, while Kierson Maydew added five. Sophie Mader dished out 22 assists, while Abbie Casper and Jaryn Benning had 15 and 10 digs, respectively.
 
Northwest (11-3, 5-1 MIAA) had a pair of players in double-figures for kills with Payton Kirchofer with 14 and Avery Kemp with 12.
 
Set one was all Northwest as the Bearcats led from start to finish.
 
Set two saw the Lions jump out to a 13-8 lead, forcing a Northwest Missouri timeout. The lead reached 21-17 late and forced another Bearcat timeout. The Lions led 24-22, but Northwest tied the set at 24 and went ahead 25-24 on the next point. Southern tied it at 25 and again at 26, but the Bearcats scored the final two points.
 
Set three saw four tied scores and one lead change. Both teams traded points early on, but the Bearcats took a 14-7 lead midway through, forcing a Lions' timeout. The lead was six (19-13) for the Bearcats forcing another Southern timeout and Northwest held on to take the set and match.
 
The Lions had five team blocks in the match and 43 digs.
 
Southern will be back in action on Tuesday evening as the Lions play host to Missouri Western at 6 pm. This match is a make-up of a previously-scheduled match between the Lions and Griffons originally slated for last week.