FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 14, 2008

Lions send seniors out winners with five set nail-biting win over SBU

Box Score

Joplin, Mo. -- Trailing 7-2 and 12-8 in the fifth and final set, the Missouri Southern volleyball team fought back and won that deciding set, 15-13 tonight and the match three sets to two, sending the Lions' four graduating seniors out winners on senior night against Southwest Baptist. Individual set scores were 25-22, 25-17, 20-25, 23-25, and 15-13.

Southern (10-22, 5-15 MIAA) had gone up two sets to none after hitting .344 in the first set and .500 in the second set as a team. The Lions struggled in the third set and hit .096. SBU (13-19, 5-14 MIAA) hit .333 as a team in the fourth set to tie the match at two, but the Lions prevailed in the fifth and final set.

The Bearcats opened up a 7-2 lead in the deciding set, forcing a Southern timeout. The Lions got two quick points on kills from Ashley Hill and Amelia Judge, but SBU took the lead at the turn, 8-4.

A kill from SBU's Katie Dusenberg made the score 12-8, forcing another Southern timeout. MSSU responded, though, going on a 3-1 run to get within two at 13-11 after a kill from Stefanie Williams. Williams then proceeded to serve the match out as four straight attack errors from the Bearcats gave the Lions the win.

Freshman Maria Weller had the game of her short career tonight, hitting .367 with 16 kills. Hill added her fourth double-double in the last six matches with 14 kills and 20 digs, while Williams recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 18 kills and 15 digs. Sarah Joles ended her stellar career as a Lion with a double-double of her own with 30 assists and 13 digs. Elin Skei had 28 assists, while Kari Hammerbacher had 19 digs.

SBU had four players with double-digit kills as Brianna Wallace dished out 60 assists. Shyrah Perry had 34 digs.

Joles and Hill etched their names into the Southern record books this season. Joles finishes her career with 4,219 career assists and is second place all-time in Southern history, just 409 off the school record. She ranks seventh all-time with 157 career service aces, and holds the school record for most assists in a match with 73, set last season. Hill sits in ninth place all-time on the Southern dig list with 1,185 career digs.