ROLLA, Mo. — Missouri Southern volleyball turned in an impressive showing on Saturday, sweeping Christian Brothers University in straight sets before battling to a five-set victory over Missouri S&T later that evening. The Lions improved to 3-1 overall with the doubleheader sweep at Bullman Multi-Purpose Building.
Following the matches, Alana Moesch and Fernanda Merancio were named to the 2025 Missouri S&T Invitational All-Tournament Team.
Match 1: Missouri Southern 3, Christian Brothers 0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-14)
Missouri Southern (2-1) opened the day with a dominant performance over Christian Brothers (1-3), winning in straight sets behind strong serving and balanced offense.
Setter Hannah Allick was instrumental in the sweep, recording 17 assists and a match-high five service aces. Addysen Alvis led the Lions offensively with 13 kills and a blistering .542 hitting percentage, while Fernanda Merancio chipped in eight kills and four blocks, including one solo. Alana Moesch added seven kills and two aces in the victory.
The Lions jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the opening set, capitalizing on Buccaneer errors and a Merancio service ace. Allick's serving helped stretch the lead, including back-to-back aces for a 13-7 advantage. A late kill by Alvis and a set-ending kill by Merancio secured the first frame, 25-19.
In the second set, the Lions once again started hot with a 4-0 run powered by Allick's aces and an Alvis kill. Moesch added timely kills, and despite a small rally from CBU, Missouri Southern controlled the set throughout. Alvis closed it out again, sealing another 25-19 win.
Christian Brothers scored first in the third set, but Missouri Southern responded quickly. A key 5-0 run, sparked by a Reagan Ashby ace and two more from Brenna Weaver, swung momentum permanently to the Lions. Moesch and Alvis delivered consistent attacks, while Merancio added another kill to extend the lead. Anny Montano finished off the sweep with a final kill, giving the Lions a 25-14 third-set win.
Match 2: Missouri Southern 3, Missouri S&T 2 (20-25, 25-21, 25-20, 15-25, 15-9)
In the nightcap, Missouri Southern (3-1) faced a much stiffer challenge, needing five sets to overcome a feisty Missouri S&T squad (1-3). After splitting the first four sets, the Lions dominated the fifth to secure the hard-fought win.
Fernanda Merancio was again at the forefront, tallying 19 kills and three blocks for 20.5 points. Alana Moesch added 14 kills and one block, while Allick distributed 28 assists and landed two service aces. Montano added nine kills and two aces, finishing with 11 points.
The Lions dropped the opening set 25-20 after a back-and-forth battle, with the Miners pulling away late thanks to a string of service aces. But Missouri Southern responded in the second, led by Merancio's kills and Allick's all-around play. The Lions held off a mid-set S&T push and closed it out 25-21 on a Moesch kill.
In set three, the Lions showed resilience, rallying from a 4-0 deficit. A 6-0 run orchestrated by Allick gave them control, and Montano delivered the final blow with a kill to take the set 25-20.
Missouri S&T forced a deciding fifth set with a dominant 25-15 fourth set, as the Lions struggled with errors and substitutions. However, Missouri Southern rebounded in the final frame. A 4-0 start, fueled by strong setting from Allick and kills by Merancio, set the tone. Weaver added key assists late, and the Lions secured a 15-9 win to clinch the match.
Up Next
After a successful day in Rolla, the Lions will continue their 2025 slate Sept. 12-13 at the SBU Invitational in Bolivar, Missouri.
