MSU-Moorhead Box | Colorado-Colorado Springs Box | Season Stats

WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- The Pittsburg State volleyball team (1-5) earned its first win of the 2013 with a 3-0 (25-23, 25-12, 25-23) victory over Colorado-Colorado Springs in the team's second game of the day. The Gorillas fell early in the day in the opening game of the Peggy Martin Challenge, 3-1, to Minnesota State Moorhead.

Pitt State's hitting was much improved from previous matches this season, as the team hit at a .262 clip, including .323 in the first set of the match. The team tallied 40 kills, seven more than the opposition. Pitt State was also stronger defensively with 54 digs to only 45 for CU-Colorado Springs and 7.0 blocks to 4.0. 

Sophomore Crystal Whitten led the Gorillas with 17 kills. Madi Mosier was the second leading hitter with eight kills. She finished the match with a team-high .467 attack percentage with her eight kills and only one error in 15 attempts. Mosier also led teh team in blocks with four, one solo and three assisted. Two Gorillas notched double figures in digs. Jordan Rehm led the team with 16 and Ashlen Schwartz added 10. Kirsten Erikson was just under double digits with nine digs. 

Against MSU-Moorhead Pitt State lost the first two sets 25-20 and 25-22, before taking set three, only the second set lost by Dragons this season. The Gorillas put up a valiant fight in the fourth set, before falling 29-27.

Pitt State hit at a better percentage than the Dragons, .200 to .110, though Moorhead put 51 kills to 42 for the Gorillas. The Gorillas were strong at the net with 16.0 team blocks. Pitt State also managed eight more digs than the Dragons with 59. MSU-Moorhead had 13 services aces in the match, but also had 10 service errors. The Gorillas put down eight aces and only three service errors. 

Whitten recorded a double-double with 15 kills and 10 digs. She was the only Gorilla with double figure kills, though Mosier and Paula Okrutna each recorded seven. Whitten also led the team with three service aces and recorded three block assists. Rehm led the Gorillas with 14 digs. Hayley Hansford and Okrutna anchored the Gorilla defensive effort with five blocks a piece. Okrutna had two solo blocks and three block assists, while Hansford had four solo blocks and one block assist.

Pitt State continues Peggy Martin Challenge play on Saturday with a 9 a.m. match versus No. 23 Ferris State and a 3 p.m. match against Winona State.