MARYVILLE, Mo. - The No. 15-ranked Northwest Missouri State University volleyball team scored a four-set win over the No. 25-ranked University of Central Missouri Jennies Tuesday night at Bearcat Arena.

Northwest won by set scores of 25-21, 25-15, 23-25 and 25-18. Northwest moved its season mark to 14-5 overall and 8-3 in league play. UCM dropped to 12-8 overall and 7-4 in MIAA action.

The Bearcat defensive effort allowed the home team to shine in the four-set win. Northwest notched 93 digs with a trio of Bearcats earning 20 or more digs. Jaden Ferguson and Kyah Luhring each posted career-highs in digs with 21 and 22, respectively. Payton Kirchhoefer notched her second 20-plus dig performance of her career with 20 digs against the Jennies.

Ferguson and Kirchhoefer each recorded their sixth career double-doubles in the win. Ferguson put down 13 kills, while Kirchhoefer landed 18 kills.

Olivia Dir sparked the Bearcat effort in the fourth set as she entered the lineup for Hallie Sidney. Dir gained six kills on eight swings in the fourth set - the only set she saw action.

Alyssa Rezac put on quite a show with 45 assists, 11 digs, seven blocks and four kills.

The opening set was a fierce battle that featured 11 ties. Northwest gained the upper-hand late with a 5-1 run after it was knotted at 20-20. Ferguson had five kills and hit .625 in the first set.

Northwest took it to UCM in the second set and posted a 25-15 triumph for a 2-0 lead. A trio of consecutive block assists by Avery Kemp gave the Bearcats a 14-10 advantage. Kate Frakes boosted the offensive effort with two service aces in the set. Northwest would hit .406 in the set with 16 kills and three attack errors. Northwest had a sideout effort of 75% in the second. 

The Bearcats held a 16-9 lead in the third and looked to be en route to a 3-0 sweep. However, the Jennies had other ideas. Following an 8-1 run, UCM tied the set at 17-17. Northwest rebuilt a three-point lead at 21-18 but UCM responded again and scored seven of the final nine points to take the set, 25-23.

Northwest stormed out to a 12-6 lead in the fourth set. The Bearcats took another 16-9 lead only to see UCM score four straight to cut the lead to three. The Bearcats refused to allow the Jennies back in the set and closed it out with a 25-18 victory.

Northwest will be back in action Friday at home against the Washburn University Ichabods. Northwest and Washburn will have first serve at 6 p.m. in Bearcat Arena.