BOLIVAR, Mo. -- The Pitt State (8-16, 5-11 MIAA) and Southwest Baptist (8-16, 3-13 MIAA) volleyball teams traded sets, but in the end, the Gorillas came out ahead with a 3-2 (17-25, 25-22, 18-25, 25-22, 15-12) win over the Bearcats in Bolivar on Tuesday (Oct. 28) night.

The Gorillas got down early, losing the first set 25-17. The Gorillas were hurt by three Southwest Baptist aces and a .406 attack percentage.

Pitt State recovered nicely in the second set, recording 17 kills and a .316 attack percentage to just .156 for the Bearcats. 

In the third set, the Gorillas only put down nine kills and also had nine attack errors. SBU added three blocks to secure the 25-18 win.

PSU was no quite back to set two form in the fourth set, but was able to outwork the home team for the 25-22 win. Each team had 13 kills, but Pitt State recorded only five errors compared to nine for the Bearcats. There were nine ties and three lead changes early in the set before the Gorillas took the lead for good at 13-12 on a kill by Madi Mosier.

The Gorillas led the entire match in set five. The team used a Chandler Templin kill to be the first to eight at 8-5. Pitt State would never lead by more than three, but that was all it needed, sealing the match with a 15-12 set five win.

Mosier led the Gorillas with a seaosn-high 22 kills. She also added 14 digs and a team-high four blocks. Ashley Bell added 13 kills. Paula Okrutna had 11 kills with only three errors. Ashlen Schwartz led the team with 21 kills, while Aimee Wood added 14. Taylor Wright and Hayley Hansford each recorded 11 digs. Hansford also had 51 assists and four blocks.

The Gorillas return home this weekend for their final home matches of the season. Friday the team will take on Northwest Missouri at 7 p.m. Pitt State Athletics will host a costume contest for all ages. Prizes from Chatters, the University Bookstore, Fuzzy's and Jock's Nitch among others will be awarded to winners in ages groups from infant to 6th grade, middle and high school, college and adult. Saturday the team takes on Missouri Western at 3 p.m. Prior to the game, the team will honor its five seniors, Haylee Gregory, Ashley Bell, Paula Okrutna and Aimee Wood. Admission to Pitt State Volleyball home games is free.