Oct. 6, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Border rivalry continues as Lions meet Pitt State in volleyball

The border rivalry between Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State continues on Tuesday night, when the Missouri Southern volleyball squad hosts the nationally-ranked Pittsburg State Gorillas at 7 p.m. in Robert Ellis Young Gym.

The Lions bring a 9-6 overall record into the match, while No. 14 Pittsburg State comes in off a loss after starting the season 16-0. The Gorillas are 6-1 in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association after losing on Friday, 3-2, at Missouri Western.

Southern has won two of its last three matches, including a 3-1 decision on Wednesday over Missouri Western and a sweep of Northwest Missouri on Saturday. The Lions are currently tied for sixth in the MIAA race with a 3-5 ledger.

The two teams met earlier this season in Pittsburg on Sept. 18, with the Gorillas narrowly escaping defeat with a 3-2 win. PSU took the first two games by 30-24 margins before Southern rallied for a 30-22 victory in the third. Game 4 was a slugfest won 33-31 by the Lions, who led 12-5 in the fifth game before Pitt State stormed back to claim a 15-13 win.

Missouri Southern has dominated the all-time series over PSU, holding a 46-10 all-time record in its longest-running series. On its home floor, Southern has won 17 of 20 matches with the Gorillas.

Southern has played four nationally-ranked foes in its last seven matches.