PITTSBURG, Kan. -- The Pittsburg State Volleyball team continued its five-set match trend, as it took the No. 5 Nebraksa-Kearney Lopers to five sets on Friday (Sept. 26) night in John Lance Arena.
Pitt State lost the first set, 25-11, but battled back to take the next two sets 27-25 and 25-22. The Gorillas stayed close in the fourth set, but allowed the Lopers to tie the match with a 25-18 set four win. UNK then the final set 15-8.
There were eight ties and three lead changes in the second set. Pitt State got off to an early 5-2 lead, topped by a kill by Maggie Highberger, but UNK quickly tied the set at 5-5. The Gorillas pushed ahead again, 7-5, but the Lopers went on a 7-0 run to lead 12-7. The Gorillas were not about to lie down, however, and never let the lead grow to more than four after that point. Finally, down 20-16, Pitt State went on a run of its own to tie the match 20-20. The match was tied again at 23, 24 and 25 before back-toback kills by Madi Mosier and Highberger gave the Gorillas the win.
The third set was a fight with 12 ties, but only two lead changes. Neither team led by more than three points. The Gorillas were down by three, 17-14, when a run on Ashlen Schwartz's serve gave Pitt State an 18-17 lead. The Lopers tied the set at 18, 19 and 20, but never regained the lead. Big blocks by Ary Crittleton and Paula Okrutna and Hayley Hansford and Mosier gave Pitt State a 24-21 lead. UNK would sneak in one more point before Crittleton put down a kill that gave PItt State the 2-1 lead in the match.
The Lopers controlled the fourth set early jumping out to an 8-1 lead. Pitt State steadily worked its way back into the set to tie it at 15-all and 16-all, but were only able to score two more points to give UNK the 25-18 win and tie the match at 2-2.
Pitt State stayed close in the fifth set, but was not able to overcome a .389 attack percentage from the Lopers.
Mosier led all players with 17 kills, she also added eight digs and two block assists. Paula Okrutna put down 12 kills and also contributed two block assists. Crittleton also hit double figures with 10 kills. She had a solo block and three block assists. Setter Hansford recorded a double-double with 48 assists and 11 digs. Libero Schwartz led the Gorillas with 17 digs. Aimee Wood and Taylor Wright each had nine digs. Highberger was just under double figures with eight kills and she and Haylee Gregory shared the team lead in blocks with five a piece.
Pitt State will continue its home stand on Saturday at 6 p.m. against Fort Hays State. Fans are encouraged to continue their day of PItt State Athletics by coming over to the volleyball game after football.
