Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Pittsburg State Volleyball team lost its first two matches of the season, a 3-0 loss to Augustana and a 3-1 loss to South Dakota Mines.

The match against Augustana was close in the first and third sets, with Pitt State carrying the sets to extra points before succumbing, 31-29 and 30-28. The Gorillas lost the second set, 25-8.

Chandler Templin and Taylor Unke led the Gorillas with six kills a piece. Maggie Highberger added five. Lana DaSilva was the team's top blocker in the game with one solo block and three block assists. Noelle Dooley led the Gorillas with 18 digs, while Ashlen Schwartz added 15. Each of the Gorilla setters, Taylyn Schwartz and Hayley Hansford recorded 12 assists.

The Gorillas stayed close to South Dakota Mines the entire match. The teams traded the first two sets, with Mines winning the first set 25-17, and the Gorillas taking the second, 25-18. Mines won the final two sets, 25-23 and 25-16.

Two different Gorillas stepped up offensively in the second match of the day. Highberger led the team with 11 kills and a .474 attack percentage, while DaSilva had 10 kills and was almost as efficient with a .421 attack percentage. Unke added eight kills, while Dooley and Lexi Fulghum each had six. Unke was strong at the net for Pitt State with five blocks, one solo and four assisted. Four players had double figure digs, led by Taylor Wright with 15. Dooley added 12, Schwartz, 11, and Hansford 10. Hansford recorded a double-double, adding 19 assists to her digs. Taylyn Schwartz had 20 assists.

The Gorillas continue Washburn Invitational play on Saturday at 11:30 against Drury and at 3:30 against Black Hills State.