FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 27, 2008

Lions sweep Missouri Western at home

Box Score

Joplin, Mo. --  The Missouri Southern defense was spotlighted today with six blocks and they limited the Missouri Western offense to a .049 attack average, defeating the Griffons 3-0 today at Young Gymnasium. Individual set scores were 26-24, 25-12 and 25-15.

Southern ( 5-9, 1-4 MIAA) went up 7-2 to start the first set and led 16-8 after a kill from Ashlee Russell later in the set.

Western (3-15, 0-6 MIAA) tied the first set up at 20 off a kill from Megan Voelz, but a kill from Kara Robeson put the Lions back on top at 21-20. Both teams would trade points, but a kill from Russell gave Southern a 25-24 lead and a Western ball handling error gave the Lions the first set.

The Lions started on an 8-0 run to start the second set, forcing a Western timeout. Southern pushed the lead to 18-5 and later 20-8 after a kill from Stephanie Williams. Western hit -.111 in the set as the Lions benefitted from ten errors.

The third set was much of the same as the Lions jumped out to a 3-0 lead forcing a Western timeout. Southern pushed the lead to 19-9 after a Western error and eventually won the third set 25-15. Western had 11 errors in the set and hit .000.

The Lions were led by Kara Robeson as the junior had eight kills and hit .545 with a dig. Sarah Joles had 20 assists and five digs, while Williams added 12 digs. Kari Hammerbacher had 20 digs, while Elin Skei added 13 assists. Brittany Vavao-Huggins had a match high five blocks.

The Lions will be back in action next Friday, October 3 as they play host to Abilene Christian at 7 pm as part of the Pittsburg State Invitational.