FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 14, 2007

Lions drop three setter to 12th ranked Pittsburg State

Box Score

Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern volleyball team kept it close in games one and three, but couldn't get past the 12th ranked Pittsburg State University Gorillas tonight as PSU defeated the Lions, three games to one in front of more than 800 fans at Young Gymnasium. Individual game scores were 28-30, 16-30 and 28-30.

Southern (9-6, 0-2, MIAA) went ahead 15-11 in game one after back to back attack errors from PSU's Sammie Williams. The Gorillas fought back and tied the game at 18, 20 and 21 as both teams jockeyed for the lead. PSU would eventually win 30-28 on a kill from Laura Toman.

PSU (14-1, 2-0 MIAA) hit .233 in the game and had 18 kills. The Gorillas dominated game two, hitting .378 as a team and mashed out 16 kills with just two errors. Pitt would eventually win 30-16.

Southern started game three strong, going up 4-2, but the match would be tied at 10 and again at 15 and 16, before the Lions took a 17-16 lead. Southern went up 20-17 on a kill from Cherie Baugh forcing a PSU timeout. The Lions led later at 27-22, forcing another Pitt timeout, but the Gorillas went on an 8-1 run to end the match, capping off game three with a kill from Williams.

Southern had two in double figures for kills led by Sarah Hoffmeister with 13. The senior from Joplin hit .345 in the match. Baugh had 11 kills and nine digs, while Sarah Joles posted a double-double with 44 assists and 11 digs. Kari Hammerbacher had 16 digs on the night.

Southern led in digs 51-49, but 30 attack errors killed any momentum the Lions could get.

MSSU will be back in action Tuesday, September 18 when the Lions travel to Central Missouri for a 7 pm match with the Jennies.