ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The No. 24-ranked Northwest Missouri State University volleyball team used an old foe to get back on the right foot with a 3-0 thumping of the Missouri Western Griffons at the MWSU Fieldhouse.
 
Northwest ended its three-match losing skid and picked up its first MIAA victory of the season. Northwest won by set scores of 25-17, 25-19 and 25-25.
 
The Bearcats took a 4-0 lead in the opening set and would not relinquish the advantage en route to a 25-17 win.
 
Northwest used an 8-2 spurt in the second set to turn a 5-5 tie into a 13-7 lead. Missouri Western battled back to within 21-19, but the Bearcats were able to close out the set on a 4-1 run.
 
The Bearcats finished off the Griffons in the third, 25-22.
 
Abby Brunssen led the way with nine kills and hit .563. A trio of Bearcats reached double figures in digs with Kyah Luhring totaling a team-best 18 digs. Payton Kirchhoefer notched 14 digs and Kristen Ford added 11 digs. Avery Kemp had four solo blocks and an assisted block in the win.
 
Northwest will return home Friday for a 6 p.m. match with the Newman Jets at Bearcat Arena.