Oct. 7, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Volleyball Lions upset No. 15 Pittsburg State

Junior Sara Jaynes had 18 kills and senior Amy Little added 16 to go with 25 digs as the Missouri Southern volleyball team upset No. 15 Pittsburg State on Tuesday night, 3-2, before an estimated 520 fans in Robert Ellis Young Gym.

It marked the Lions 18th victory over Pittsburg State in 21 all-time matches played in Joplin. Southern (10-6, 4-5 MIAA) improved to 47-10 all-time against the Gorillas.

Pittsburg State (16-2, 6-2 MIAA) dominated the opener, leading by as many as 11 points before cruising to a 30-18 win. In the second game, Southern battled back from a 24-18 deficit for a 33-31 win. Lindsey Mason's kill snapped a 31-31 tie and the Lions won it on a PSU error.

Jaynes and Mason combined for 14 kills and a .546 hitting percentage in Game 3, but Pittsburg State went up 2-1 for the match with a 31-29 victory. The Gorillas hit .280 in the third game and got seven kills from Dina Wathan and two blocks from Marianne Carrier.

Senior Kym Mutert served up the first four points for the Lions in the fourth game, and Southern capitalized on five early PSU errors to jump to a 13-7 lead. However, the Gorillas came back to tie it at 16-all after three MSSU errors and three points from Lyndsey Watson. Senior Jessie Puszewski figured in four of the next eight points as Missouri Southern surged back in front 24-18 and then held on for the 30-28 win.

In the fifth and decisive game, Southern took an early lead and widened it to 12-7 after a service ace from Mutert. Pitt State climbed back to within 13-10, but the Lions out-hit the Gorillas .136 to -.053 in the game to earn the 15-10 win.

PSU's Wathan finished with game-highs in both kills (22) and digs (30) and Carrier added 16 kills and seven blocks. Chrissy Elder handed out 63 assists.

Puszewski and Mason added 11 kills apiece for the Lions, and Puszewski also finished with 24 digs. Senior Jenny Ford added six blocks and Mutert had 58 assists, eight kills and two service aces.