JOPLIN, Mo. — Missouri Southern volleyball (7-10, 1-5 MIAA) swept Newman University (2-15, 0-6 MIAA) in straight sets, 25-22, 25-20, 25-17, at the Robert Ellis Young Gymnasium on Friday evening.
MSSU now has a 7-10 record and a 1-5 mark in MIAA play. NU stands at 2-15 overall with an 0-6 record in league competition.
Tori Hamilton led the defensive effort with 20 digs over three sets.
Hannah Allick paced the offense, recording 25 assists and adding two kills.
Alana Moesch contributed significantly with 10 kills and nine digs, while
Fernanda Merancio posted 11 kills and four blocks, finishing with 13.5 points.
Moesch now has surpassed 1,000 career kills and becomes the second member of the current MSSU Lions squad to reach the milestone after Merancio posted the feat in September.
The first set began with MSSU establishing their presence on the court. Despite an early setback with an attack error, the team quickly leveled the score following a service error from the Jets. A series of contributions from
Hanna Lauterbach and Merancio helped MSSU maintain parity with NU, as they matched the visitors point for point through the early exchanges.
As the set progressed, MSSU found momentum through strategic plays, including key kills from Moesch and
Ella Breazeale. The home team capitalized on Newman's errors, with Merancio and Moesch delivering pivotal points to keep the score tied at several intervals. In the latter half of the set, MSSU surged ahead with a string of successful plays led by Merancio and Moesch, ultimately closing the set with a 25-22 advantage.
The second set opened with NU taking an early 8-0 lead, capitalizing on multiple kills from Nicole Soto and Hannah Tymitz. Southern responded with a rally, as Merancio and Moesch recorded crucial points to cut the deficit. Despite Newman's initial momentum, MSSU managed to close the gap significantly.
The Lions turned the tide with a series of service aces from Hamilton and impactful kills by Breazeale and
Anny Montano, which allowed them to tie the score at 17-17. From there, MSSU surged ahead, scoring eight of the next 11 points, including decisive blocks and another service ace from Hamilton, to secure the set with a 25-20 victory.
In the third set, the Lions capitalized on a strong start, with Montano and Lauterbach delivering key kills to establish an early lead. Allick facilitated a well-balanced attack, contributing multiple assists, allowing the team to maintain momentum against NU. As the set progressed, Missouri Southern showcased a sturdy defense with blocks from Lauterbach and Merancio, extending their advantage.
Despite service errors contributing to occasional points for NU, MSSU kept control with consistent offensive pressure, highlighted by Moesch and
Epifania Salamasina's effective scoring. The set concluded with Breazeale securing the final point off an assist from Allick, as Southern closed the set 25-17, reinforcing their lead in the match.
The MIAA win marked the first for head coach
Joshua Moore at the helm of the Lions.
MSSU next hosts rival Pittsburg State Saturday at Robert Ellis Young Gymnasium. First serve is set for 3 p.m., CT.
