PITTSBURG – The Pitt State Volleyball team (2-14, 0-4 MIAA) played Missouri Western (11-5, 3-1 MIAA) tight the entire match, but fell 3-1 (25-22, 24-26, 25-20, 25-23) on Saturday (October 1) in John Lance Arena.

The Gorillas only allowed the Griffons a lead of more then five at one point in the match, 24-18 in set three. The rest of the time Pitt State went point for point with the visiting team, resulting in a total of 36 ties and 16 lead changes throughout the four set match. 

Pitt State hit slightly better than the Griffons in three of the four sets and had fewer attack errors for the match. Pitt State finished the match with a .183 attack percentage to .200 for the Griffons. The difference was Mmissouri Western's 56 kills to just 48 for the Gorillas. Missouri Western was also able to land nine services aces, compared to just three for PSU. Pitt State outblocked the visiting team 5.0 to 3.0, but had two fewer digs. 

Magige Highberger was the only Gorilla with double figure kills, as she put down 15 on the afternoon. Lauren Regier added nine and Taylor Unke, seven. Zoey Qi led the Gorillas at the net with three blocks, whiel Regier and Unke each had two. Ashlen Schwartz topped all players with 19 digs. Lauren Maisberger added 12 and Cal VanBuskirk recorded 10 to go along with her 39 assists for a double-double. 

Pitt State started the first set on a 4-0 run. Missouri Western came back to tie the set at 6-6. From then on it was a battle, as neither team was able to get more than a two point advantage until the last point. 

In set two, the Gorillas were again able to gain a four-point advantage, this time a bit later in the set at 11-7. Once again the Griffons fought back, tying the set at 12-12. Pitt State took the lead back to three at 15-12, but again, Missouri Western came back and tied it at 16-16. All four lead changes in teh set came after 18-18. A Griffon block gave them their first lead at 19-18. The Gorillas came back this time, regained teh lead and took it to three again at 22-19 on three consecutive Missouri Western hitting errors. Two kills from Rachel Losch and two Pitt State errors gave the Griffons the lead one more time at 23-22. Highberger tied it again with a kill and a Griffon error gave Pit State the lead at 24-23. MWSU fought off match point, but Highberger landed another kill for the 25-24 lead before a final Griffon error ended the set 26-24 in favor of the Gorillas. 

Pitt State had the lead for a short time in set three, but the Griffons took over late in the set to win 25-20. 

The Gorillas had several four point leads early in the fourth set, but Missouri Western steadily worked its way closer. The first tie came at 16-16 and the Griffons earned their first lead at 18-17. Pitt State battled back and rattled off three stright points on a Highberger kill, a double block by Regier and Unke and an Unke kill to take a 23-22 lead. Missouri Western answered with three straight points of their own however to win the set and the match.

Pitt State will play a midweek match at Central Oklahoma on Tuesday, October 4 and 7 p.m. before returning home for Homecoming Weekend. The Gorillas will take on Southwest Baptist at 6 p.m. on Friday and Missouri Southern at 6 p.m. on Saturday.