PITTSBURG – The Gorilla Volleyball team capped Homecoming Weekend with a 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-22) win over rival Missouri Southern on Saturday (October 8) evening in John Lance Arena.
Pitt State topped Missouri Southern in every statistical category. Though the scores were close, the Gorillas were able to build fight through several ties and go on some runs to win the match.
Maggie Highberger led Pitt State with 10 kils. She hit .304 for the match. Lauren Regier added six kills, while Zoey Qi, Noelle Dooley and Erika each recorded five. Taylor Wright and Ashlen Schwartz each had 11 digs. Qi led the Gorillas with four blocks, including two solo blocks. Taylor Unke added three blocks.
The eight ties in the first set all came in the first eight points for each team. Back-to-back kills by Unke and Qi broke the series of ties and gave the Gorillas a slight advantage. A four point run on Taylor Wright's serve took the Pitt State lead to six at 16-10. Missouri Southern came back within two late in the set, 22-20, but the Gorillas rattled off three straight points to win 25-20.
Although Missouri Southern took the first point in the second set, Pitt State quickly took over with a six point run for a 6-1 lead. Missouri Southern came no closer than four points, until it held of two set points by the Gorillas, the last at 24-21. A Lion hitting error gave the Gorillas the final point they needed for the 25-21 set two win.
The Lions scored first again in the third set, but this time it was a bit more of a battle for the Gorillas to take over, though they never turned the lead over after taking it at 2-2. Pitt State was able to build as much as a five-point lead at 13-8 on a Wright kill. Missouri Southern came back, however, and tied the match at both 17- and 18-. A Lion service error and back-to-back kills from Dooley and Highberger took Pitt State's lead back to three, 21-18. The Lions closed the gap to one point again, 21-20, but the Gorillas were able to keep them at arms length and Highberger's 10th kill was the match winner.
Pitt State will travel next weekend to No. 3 Nebraska-Kearney on Friday and Fort Hays State on Saturday.
