PITTSBURG, Kan. —
Pittsburg State trailed just twice in three sets while beating Missouri Southern in volleyball Wednesday night at John Lance Arena.
The Gorillas, who broke a four-match losing streak, improved to 8-4 for the season.
It was a nonconference match and did not count in the Sonic Trophy Series between the rival universities.
The Gorillas hit .333 in their 25-17 opening-set victory, and .265 for the night.
Remaining scores were 25-19, 25-17.
The opening set was tied just once, at 2-2. The Gorillas led by as many as 10 points, on three occasions.
Pitt State jumped ahead 10-2 in the second set but Southern rallied to go ahead 13-12. Paula Okrutna had a kill and then three straight service aces during the Gorillas’ winning rally.
The Lions, trailing 4-1 early, pulled ahead 6-5 in the third set. PSU took the lead for good on a Southern error.
Okrutna and Brooke Fay had nine kills each for Pittsburg State. Becca Pearson had 26 assists and Hayley Hansford added nine. Okrutna contributed six ace serves. Nicole Rockhold led with 11 digs.
Fay, Crystal Whitten and Haylee Gregory had two block assists each.
For Missouri Southern, Callie Whetstone had seven kills and Payton Graves six.
Abby Finder had 18 assists and Kaycia Fry two service aces. Katie Politte had 11 digs and Graves had two block assists.
Southern hit just .099 for the match, with 25 kills offset by 17 errors among 91 total attacks.
The Lions, 0-11 overall and 0-2 in the MIAA, play their home opener on Friday night against Truman State, starting at 7 p.m.
Pittsburg State visits Washburn at 7 p.m. Friday and Emporia State at 7 Saturday.
Pittsburg State Sports
Gorillas dominate Missouri Southern spikers
- Pittsburg State Sports
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Seven athletes selected for PSU's hall of fame
The Pittsburg State athletics department will induct seven people into its hall of fame during a ceremony Nov. 2.
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Lions qualify 12 for track nationals
Missouri Southern has qualified a dozen athletes — six men and six women — for the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships, it was announced Tuesday.
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Western rebounds to end Pitt State's season
David Chew’s three-run home run gave Missouri Western a 6-0 third-inning lead, and the Griffons went on to eliminate Pittsburg State 11-4 Friday afternoon in the MIAA Tournament at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
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7 Lions, 8 Gorillas names all-MIAA
Seven Missouri Southern Lions and eight Pittsburg State Gorillas have been named to the MIAA’s all-conference baseball team, it was announced Thursday.
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Gorillas stay alive with 3-1 win over UCO
Ryan Ventura’s two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning broke a 1-1 tie and kept Pittsburg State’s MIAA Tournament hopes alive Thursday night in a 3-1 victory against Central Oklahoma at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
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PSU baseball prepares for another backyard battle
Pittsburg State baseball coach Matt Murray grew up with four brothers, so he knows all about backyard battles between familiar foes with a mutual respect and a mutual level of competition.
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Frontenac's Johnson signs with PSU track program
Frontenac senior pole vaulter Taylor Johnson figures if you’re going to dream, you might as well dream big.
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Pitt State edges Southern for MIAA track title
In what was essentially a two-team race, Pittsburg State had just a touch more fuel.
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Gorillas upset Central Missouri, head to Kansas City
The Pittsburg State Gorillas scored twice in the top of the 10th to win 9-7 and complete the series upset of Central Missouri in the first round of the MIAA Tournament on Sunday at Fort Hays State’s Larks Park.
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MSSU, PSU set to battle for MIAA track title
The scene is set today for a Pittsburg State-Missouri State battle for the men’s MIAA outdoor track and field championship.
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