PITTSBURG, Kan. — Pittsburg State University defeated Missouri Southern in straight sets on Thursday evening at John Lance Arena, with scores of 25-19, 25-19, and 28-26. Missouri Southern (9-18, 3-12 Mid-America Intercollegiate) registered six service aces despite the loss.
Missouri Southern holds a 9-18 overall record and stands at 3-12 in Mid-America Intercollegiate conference play. Pittsburg State University has an overall record of 13-13, with a 6-9 mark in the Mid-America Intercollegiate conference.
Alana Moesch led the offensive efforts for Missouri Southern, finishing with 15 kills and a hitting percentage of .293.
Mataiya Barber contributed 15 assists and added two service aces.
Tori Hamilton recorded 11 digs while also serving up two aces.
Fernanda Merancio added nine kills, supporting the team's attack with a .286 hitting percentage.
Missouri Southern began the first set with a service ace from Barber, establishing an early advantage.
Anny Montano and Merancio contributed kills to maintain momentum, with assists from Barber and
Hannah Allick. Despite these efforts, Pittsburg St. responded with a series of successful plays, including a service ace by Jesa Wallace and multiple kills from Anna Dean, which allowed them to regain the lead. Midway through the set,
Addysen Alvis and Moesch delivered key kills, leveling the score at 13-13. However, Pittsburg St. capitalized on a series of offensive plays, highlighted by Dean's consistent scoring, to extend their lead. Southern continued to challenge with blocks by
Tiana Simmons and Merancio, but ultimately, Pittsburg St. closed the set with a 25-19 victory.
The Lions began the second set with momentum, highlighted by Moesch's early kills assisted by Allick, pushing the team to a brief lead at 5-3. However, Pittsburg St. responded with a series of blocks and kills, creating a 7-5 advantage. Moesch continued to be an offensive force, narrowing the gap to 10-10, but errors allowed Pittsburg St. to regain control. MSSU rallied with key contributions from Alvis and Merancio, closing the score to 15-17. Despite their efforts, including a late service ace by
Reagan Ashby, Pittsburg St. capitalized on attack errors and maintained a steady lead, ultimately closing the set at 25-19. This left Southern trailing as the match progressed.
The third set began with Pittsburg St. gaining early momentum, securing the first three points. Southern responded by capitalizing on a service error to get on the board. Hamilton's service ace and a series of attack errors by Pittsburg St. allowed MSSU to take a 7-4 lead. Moesch and Merancio made impactful plays, contributing kills that kept the score tight. As the set progressed, both teams exchanged points, with Southern maintaining a slight edge with timely kills by Moesch and Merancio. Pittsburg St. managed to level the score multiple times, but Moesch's service ace pushed Southern ahead 21-20. The set remained tense with both teams tied at 24-24, leading to a back-and-forth battle in extra points. The Lions pushed ahead to 26-25 with a kill from Montano, but Pittsburg St. answered back, eventually overtaking the set with a final score of 28-26.
The Lions will wrap up their regular season on Saturday as they travel to Newman University
