JOPLIN, Mo. — Northwest Missouri State University defeated Missouri Southern State University in four sets, 29-27, 25-21, 22-25, 25-21, on Friday night at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. Southern tallied 51 kills and recorded 73 digs in the match.
The Lions hold a 9-16 overall record, with a 3-10 mark in Mid-America Intercollegiate play. Northwest Missouri State University has a 9-13 overall record and is also 3-10 in the Mid-America Intercollegiate standings.
Hannah Allick delivered a strong performance with 23 assists and four service aces, contributing significantly to the team's playmaking efforts.
Alana Moesch led the team in scoring with 17 kills and added two service aces, amassing a total of 19.5 points.
Tori Hamilton was a defensive standout, recording 25 digs to anchor the backcourt.
Addysen Alvis was efficient on the attack, finishing with 13 kills on a .375 hitting percentage.
Missouri Southern started the first set with a strong effort from Allick, who assisted Alvis for an early equalizing kill. Despite trading points, Northwest Missouri State built momentum through key plays from Kasidy Mohwinkle and Abby Bulthuis, creating a 4-1 lead.
Fernanda Merancio and
Anny Montano responded with kills to keep the Lions competitive, narrowing the gap to 5-3. As the set progressed, Southern capitalized on errors from their opponents, allowing them to draw closer. Notably, Allick's assists were pivotal in maintaining offensive pressure, as kills from
Tiana Simmons and Alvis helped the team stay within striking distance. A mid-set service ace by Allick briefly shifted momentum, bringing the score to 14-13. The Lions showed resilience, managing to tie the set at 20-20 with contributions from Moesch and
Hanna Lauterbach. The teams continued to trade points, reaching a tense 24-24 deadlock. Southern briefly took the lead, but Northwest Missouri State closed the set with a 29-27 win, with decisive points from Bulthuis securing the set.
Southern opened the second set with a strong start, as Merancio delivered an early kill from Allick, narrowing the score. Moesch and Alvis contributed key kills, helping the Lions maintain a competitive edge despite trading points with Northwest Missouri State. The momentum shifted mid-set as Northwest Missouri State capitalized on several attack errors, creating a gap. Southern rallied with kills from Moesch and Simmons, closing within striking distance. However, a late service error ended the set with a 25-21 score in favor of Northwest Missouri State.
Missouri Southern entered the third set trailing but quickly shifted momentum. After a slow start, the team found their rhythm when
Epifania Salamasina and Moesch earned crucial kills, narrowing the deficit to 6-3. A pivotal service ace by Moesch further cut the lead to 7-4, marking the beginning of a strong comeback. The home team continued to capitalize on Northwest Missouri State's errors, with Alvis contributing back-to-back kills to close the gap to 12-10. Allick's service aces turned the tide completely, as Southern surged ahead to a 16-13 advantage. Sustained pressure and a series of strategic plays extended the lead to 21-18. As the set neared its conclusion, Montano's back-to-back kills propelled Southern to a 24-19 lead. Despite a brief rally from the visitors, a service error by Northwest Missouri State sealed the set for the home team at 25-22, concluding with a decisive victory.
Southern started the fourth set with an early challenge, as Northwest Missouri State initially gained a slight edge. However, Alvis and Moesch quickly responded with kills, shifting momentum in favor of the home team. A series of points, including a block by Alvis and a kill from Moesch, pushed Southern to a 5-2 lead. Northwest Missouri State countered, tying the score at 6-6, but Southern regained control with a service ace and a block by Montano and
Ella Breazeale, extending their lead to 16-13. The visitors mounted another comeback, capitalizing on attack errors to level the score at 18-18. In the closing stages, Northwest Missouri State surged ahead with a series of kills from Mohwinkle and a service ace, ultimately securing the set 25-21. Despite the late efforts, Southern was unable to close the gap, ending the match in a tight contest.
The Lions take the court next Saturday, November 8th at 3 p.m. facing the Missouri Western Griffons.
