FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 27, 2007

Lions fall at home to fifth ranked Washburn, 3-1

Box Score

Joplin, Mo. -- Despite five players with double-figures for kills, the Missouri Southern volleyball team lost a heartbreaker to fifth ranked Washburn today, three games to one. Individual game scores were 30-28, 30-17, 27-30, and 27-30.

Southern (15-15, 2-10 MIAA) let many chances slip away today to get the upset of the Lady Bules and secure a spot in the MIAA post season tournament. The Lions, led 28-24 in game one after a kill from Ashlee Russell. The Lady Blues, however, got three straight kills from Tessa Jones and a fourth to end the game, as Washburn used a 6-0 to close out the first set.

Washburn (32-1, 12-0 MIAA) then hit a blistering .455 in game two defeating the Lions 30-17.

Southern hit .291 in game three with 21 kills and just five errors to win 30-27. That game featured 13 ties and two lead changes, but the Lions took a 26-25 lead on a kill from Brittany Vavao-Huggins and wouldn't relinquish, eventually winning on another kill from Russell.

The Lions opened game four with a 14-5 lead over Washburn and led 24-20, but four straight points from the Lady Blues forced a Southern timeout. The Lions got a point out of the timeout to go up 25-24, however, Washburn used a 6-2 run to end the game and match.

Russell led five Lions in double figure kills with 20 on the afternoon. Sarah Hoffmeister had 18 kills and 15 digs, hitting .341 for the match. Vavao-Huggins had 13 kills and five blocks, hitting .435. Jeanna Feldman and Ashley Wright had 11 and 10 kills, respectively, while Sarah Joles added 55 assists. Kari Hammerbacher had a match high 23 digs.

The Lions and Lady Blues each had 74 kills and ten blocks, but Washburn had ten more digs (83) to the Lions 73. Jones and Monica Miesner had 22 and 20 kills, respectively for the Lady Blues.

Southern will now end the regular season with a matchup at Pittsburg State at 7 pm on Wednesday, October 31. A win in that match would guarantee a spot in the MIAA Tournament for the Lions. A loss, and Southern will have to wait for the outcome of Fort Hays and PSU on November 3.