Box Score

Box Score | Season Stats (html)

PITTSBURG, Kan. -- The Pittsburg State Volleyball team (14-12, 4-7 MIAA) challenged the No. 7 Nebraksa-Kearney Lopers (23-3, 9-2 MIAA) in a 3-2 loss in John Lance Arena on Friday night (November 1). Set scores were 25-16, 21-25, 22-25, 25-12, 15-12. 

The two teams were very close to each other statistically through the first three sets, but the Lopers dominated the last two sets. Kearney ended the match with 70 kills to 55 for the Gorillas. UNK hit .251 for the match, while PSU hit .170. The Lopers had only two more digs and three more blocks than Pitt State. UNK added six services aces to their cause, but also had six service errors. Pitt STate had three service aces and four service errors.

Three Gorillas had double figure kills, led by Madi Mosier with 16. Abbie Smith added 12 and Haylee Gregory, 10. Three Pitt State players also had double figure digs. Sam Wyatt led all players with 24. Jordan Rehm added 14. Settter Hayley Hansford recorded a double-double with 10 digs and 48 assists. 

UNK's MJ Massanet led all players with 22 kills. Ashley Leitner added 19 and Katie Sokolowski had 11. Massanet also had 14 digs for a double-double. Setter Erin Seele also had a double-double with 18 digs and 54 assits. 

There were four ties and two lead changes in the first set. The final tie was at 11-11 before Kearney went on a run and took its largest lead of the game at 20-13 on a Massanet kill. 

Pitt State bounced back in the second set and led the entire set. The team led by a set-high four points at 15-11 and 16-12. The Gorillas didn't allow the Lopers to score more then back-to-back points.

Set three was a battle. With nine ties and two lead changes. Pitt State started off with a 4-1 lead, but Kearney came back to tie the match at 6-6. The Gorillas did not surrender the lead until a Bailey Sokolowski kill gave the Lopers a 10-9 lead. Pitt State fought back and a Kearney service error tied the match at 12-12. The Gorillas took the lead back with a Mosier kill to go up 13-12. UNK tied the set at 17, 18, 19, 20 and 22 before Pitt State scored three consecutive points to win the set and go up 2-1 in the match.

Set four belonged completed to the Lopers as they only allowed eight Gorilla kills, while putting up 17 of their own and hit at a .406 clip.

The teams then went into a grueling set five to determine the match. There were five ties before the eight-point break alone, the last being at 6-6 before Pitt State used a Smith kill and a UNK error to go up 8-6. Out of the break, Smith added another kill before the Lopers went on a five-point run to take a 11-9 lead. Pitt State scored one more point before the Lopers added three more to get to set point at 14-10. A Maggie Highberger kill and a Loper error allowed two more Gorilla points before a Katie Sokolowski kill ended the match.

The Gorillas return to action on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. to face Fort Hays State in John Lance Arena.