FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 25, 2007

Lions Volleyball Splits In Final Day Of Southern Invite

UMSL Box Score | Drury Box Score

Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern Volleyball team finished the Southern Invitational with another split today, losing a heartbreaker to Missouri-St. Louis, 3-2 but rebounding to defeat Drury, 3-1.

Southern hit just .184 in the opening match against the Tritons. After winning game one, 30-27, the Lions dropped game two, 27-30. Both teams traded scores before UMSL went on a 6-2 run to win game five and take the match.

Sarah Hoffmeister had 23 kills and 11 digs, while Cherie Baugh and Ashley Wright each had 12 kills. Baugh added 10 digs, while Amy Barnicle had a match-high 17 digs. Freshman Ashlee Russell had nine kills and 11 digs in the match.

The Lions got back on track in a big way in game one against Drury. Southern hit .484 as a team in game one, knocking down 18 kills and just three errors and won 30-15. Southern would drop game two, 27-30, but win games three and four by 30-23 and 30-28 margins.

Hoffmeister once again had 23 kills and 13 digs to lead the charge. She hit. 375 in the match. Sarah Joles had 55 assists and 11 digs, while Russell added 15 kills and nine digs. Wright added 12 kills, while Amelia Judge racked 13 of her own.

Hoffmeister was named to the All-Tournament team as she averaged 4.31 kills, 3.00 digs and .38 service aces per game.

Southern will be back in action this Tuesday, August 28 when the Lions travel Arkansas Tech for a 7 pm match up. They then travel to Denton, Texas next weekend to participate in the Texas Woman's University Classic.