HTML Box | Season Stats

EDMOND, Okla. -- The sets were close and the Gorillas (3-6, 0-1 MIAA) showed promise, but the Pitt State Volleyball team still fell 3-0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-20) to Central Oklahoma (9-0, 1-0 MIAA) on Tuesday (Sept. 17) evening. 

The Bronchos hit at a nearly .300 clip for the match, while the Gorillas put together a .146 attack percentage. Pitt State had only six fewer kills, but had 11 more attack errors. Neither team was exceptionally strong at the block, with UCO earning 2.0 team blocks to none for the Gorillas. 

Crystal Whitten led the Gorillas with 14 kills. Abbie Smith was just under double figures with nine. Jordan Rehm led the team with 19 digs. Ashlen Schwartz and Hayley Hansford each added eight digs, while Whitten had seven. 

UCO's Barbara Jackson led all players with 16 kills. She also had 10 digs for a double-double. Juliette Smith added 12 kills. Tate Hardaker recorded 13 digs and Taylyn Schwartz, 15. Schwartz also had a double-double with 37 assists.

The Gorillas were able to put together some good runs in each set. In the first set, the Gorillas went from down 4-0 to a 7-4 lead while Whitten was serving. Whitten contributed two aces in that run, while Haylee Gregory had two kills. In the second set, Pitt State was trailing 11-5 when a UCO attack error started an eight-point run behind the serve of Ashlen Schwartz. Schwartz's serve was a catalyst for the Gorillas again in the third set as the Gorillas came from down four points to go up 10-9. UCO was able to fight off the Gorilla runs however with runs of its own.

Pitt State continues MIAA this weekend with a long road trip, first to Nebraska-Kearney on Friday (Sept. 20) for a 7 p.m. match, then back to Hays, Kan. for a 2 p.m. match against the Fort Hays State Tigers on Saturday (Sept. 21).