Maryville, Mo. - The Southern volleyball team opened conference play Friday evening, taking on the #18 nationally ranked Bearcats of Northwest Missouri on their home court. In an exciting match that took five sets to decide, the Lions pulled off the upset to start MIAA play 1-0 and improve to 7-2 overall.
The first set was full of exciting back and forth action, but the Bearcats would go on to take it 28-26. Flipping the script in the second set, the Lions used extra points to take it 28-26. MSSU used that momentum to take a 25-18 third set victory, but fell 25-10 to force a deciding fifth set. After falling behind 3-2, the Lions scored eight straight points to help them to a 15-6 fifth set win to take the match.
Fernanda Canedo led the way with a 22 kill, 17 dig double-double. She also recorded 4 block assists in the win.
Jaryn Benning also had a double-double, finishing with 14 kills and 21 digs. Collecting double digit kills was
Amelia Neels (12) and
Laci Ownbey (11). The digs category was led by
Tori Hamilton (31), and
Hannah Allick led the Lions with 41 assists in the match.
Next up for the Lions is Missouri Western, taking on the Griffons in St. Joseph on Saturday, September 16 at 2:00 PM.
