PITTSBURG, Kan. — The Missouri Southern State University Lions volleyball team began their participation in the Gorilla Classic at Pittsburg State University with a split in their first two matches, bringing their season record to 2-4.
The Lions kicked off the tournament on Wednesday evening with an impressive performance against the Southwestern Oklahoma State University Bulldogs, winning decisively in straight sets with scores of 25-14, 25-23, and 25-12. This commanding victory showcased the Lions' ability to control the match from the outset.
In the first set, the Lions quickly established dominance, racing to a 16-7 lead thanks to a service ace from Reagan Ashby. They maintained their advantage, with Olivia Burmeister contributing a crucial kill that extended the lead to 21-10. Kaelyn Kendrick sealed the set with a final kill, ending it at 25-14.
The second set proved to be more competitive, as Grace Gardner opened with two consecutive kills, helping the Lions to a 5-0 lead. Despite Southern's efforts, the Bulldogs fought back, narrowing the gap to 23-22 following a service ace from Libbie Hughs. However, a timely kill from Gardner allowed the Lions to clinch the set 25-23.
In the third set, after a brief tie at 5-5, the Lions surged ahead with a seven-point run, highlighted by a kill from Burmeister. They built a commanding 12-5 lead and continued to dominate, closing the set at 25-12 after a Bulldogs attack error.
Addysen Alvis and Kendrick each recorded nine kills, while Kenzie Jones excelled defensively with seven blocks. Brenna Weaver contributed significantly with 31 assists, along with two aces and ten digs, and Ashby added 11 digs to the defensive effort. Head coach Joshua Moore praised his team's resilience, highlighting their ability to learn and adapt from previous matches.
However, the Lions faced a setback in their second match on Thursday morning against the Arkansas Tech University Golden Suns. The match did not unfold as favorably, with Southern losing in straight sets, 19-25, 11-25, and 19-25.
The first set was closely contested early on, but the Golden Suns pulled ahead to a 16-9 lead. Despite a brief comeback attempt by the Lions, they could not overcome Arkansas Tech, who secured the set 25-19. The second set saw the Golden Suns dominate, racing to an 8-1 lead and ultimately winning 25-11.
In the final set, the Lions momentarily took a 9-6 lead after a strong performance from Alvis, who contributed a kill and an ace. Nevertheless, the Golden Suns regained control, scoring five consecutive points to take the lead for good at 20-16, finishing the match with a 25-19 win.
Alvis led the Lions with 12 kills and three aces, while Weaver recorded 20 assists. Defensively, Tiana Simmons stood out with eight digs, and both Burmeister and Kendrick added two blocks each. Coach Moore reflected on the challenges of early morning matches, emphasizing the learning opportunities they present for the team.
Looking ahead, the Lions were scheduled to face William Jewell College later on Thursday, with results pending at press time. They will conclude their participation in the Gorilla Classic with a match against Truman State University on Friday at 4:30 p.m.
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