Box Score Box Score | Season Stats

PITTSBURG, Kan. -- The Pitt State Volleyball team fell in three sets for the second time in as many games on Friday (Sept. 14) evening in John Lance Arena. The Gorillas lost 26-28, 18-25, 9-25 to MIAA newcomer Nebraska-Kearney, currently ranked No. 1 in the AVCA Coaches Poll.

PSU started off strong hitting .317 as a team in the first set, but in sets two and three only managed to hit .189 in the second set and .000 in the third. UNK hit .326 through the three sets. Pittsburg State did manage to outblock the Lopers by a total of 6.0 to 4.0.

Both Pitt State setters once again recorded double-digit assist nights as Hayley Hansford recorded 16 and Becca Pearson added 10. Nicole Rockhold recorded a team-high 11 digs to go along with six kills. Leah Flynn led the Gorillas with eight kills on the night. Brooke Fay recorded seven kills while Crystal Whitten also recored seven kills. Olivia Roland led the team with four blocks.

Set one was a thriller, with Pitt State pushing the Lopers and the score staying tight the entire set. There were 11 ties and six lead changes in the set. Pitt State tied the game first at 4-4 on a block by Olivia Roland and Leah Flynn, then took the lead as Roland and Crystal Whitten teamed up for a block. The Lopers tied the game at 5-5, but then Pitt State went on a run to build its lead to 8-5. UNK went on a run of its own to tie the game again at 9-9, but a well timed kill by Flynn kept the Gorilla lead. The Lopers did not get the lead back until a kill by M.J. Massanet put her team up 13-12. Though UNK was able to hold onto the lead, they never led the Gorillas by more than two point. PItt State took the lead again at 21-20 on a Loper attack error and a kill by Brooke Fay put the team up 22-20. An Ariel Krolikowski kill put UNK up 24-23 with set point on the line. Paula Okrutna answered with a kill for the Gorillas to tie the game, but a block by UNK put them up 25-24, again with set point on the line. Again, the Gorillas answered, this time with a kill from Whitten. A huge block by Roland and Okrutna gave the Gorillas the advantage at 26-25, but the team was not able to close the door, giving up the next three points to give UNK the 28-26 win.

Ellie Pesavento led the Lopers with 20 kills and Katie Sokolowski added 10. Three UNk players had double figure digs, Liz McGowan, Massanet and Kaleigh Anderson.

Pitt State will look to bounce back as they host Fort Hays State Saturday (Sept. 15). First serve at John Lance Arena is slated for 2 p.m.