MARYVILLE, Mo. – The Northwest Missouri State University volleyball team snapped a three-match losing skid with a four-set triumph over the visiting Missouri Southern Lions Friday night in Bearcat Arena.
 
Northwest won by set scores of 25-23, 25-22, 21-25 and 25-15. Northwest moved its season mark to 13-10 overall and 7-6 in MIAA action. MSSU fell to 4-21 overall and 2-11 in league play.
 
Northwest prevailed in the first set after overcoming a two-point deficit late in the set. Northwest took a 13-9 lead only to have Missouri Southern level the set at 13-13 and force a Bearcat timeout. MSSU took a 19-17 advantage before Northwest rallied for four straight points to take a 21-19 lead. Northwest was able to close out the set at 25-23. Northwest took advantage of three service aces in the opening set.
 
Northwest responded from multiple four-point deficits to take a 2-0 lead with a 25-22 win in the second set. The Lions looked to control the set by securing a 17-13 lead. However, Northwest hit MSSU with a 6-1 spurt to take a 19-18 edge. Northwest pushed the lead to three at 23-20 and finished off the Lions, 25-22. Northwest was limited to four attack errors in the second set and hit .204 with 14 kills. MSSU hit .167 with 14 kills and six attack errors.
 
The Lions clawed back in the third as the Bearcats could not keep the ball in play. Northwest had committed nine errors total in the first two sets but put up nine attack errors in the third. Meanwhile, MSSU powered down 15 kills with only one error for a .341 hitting percentage. The Lions led by as many as seven at 19-12 and 20-13. Northwest closed to within 24-21 but could not draw even as MSSU scored a 25-21 win in the third.
 
Northwest bolted out to a 5-1 lead in the fourth. MSSU drew within one at 5-4 before the Bearcats came back with a 7-2 spurt to secure a 12-6 advantage. The Bearcats pulled ahead 16-9 and the Lions were forced to call a timeout. Northwest pulled ahead 24-14 and then finished off the Lions with an Abby Brunssen kill for the 25-15 fourth-set win.
 
Northwest will be back in action Saturday at 3 p.m. at home against the Central Missouri Jennies.
 
NOTES: Kasidy Mohwinkle and Abby Brunssen tied for the team-high in kills with 11 each … Abby Builthus notched 10 kills … Ella Caffery dished out a team-best 24 assists … Payton Kirchhoefer secured 24 kills, marking the ninth time in her career she has put up 20 or more digs in a single match.


Bearcat senior Payton Kirchhoefer joined the top-10 list at Northwest for career kills in the victory over the Lions. Kirchhoefer landed seven kills against the Lions to give her 1,232 for her collegiate career.

Northwest Career Kills
1. Diann Davis (1994-97) – 1,740
2. Abby Sunderman (1997-00) – 1,715
    Jill Quast (1997-00) – 1,715
4. Maddy Bruder (2015-18) – 1,654
5. MacKenzie Heston (2003-06) – 1,638
6. Nancy Pfeifler (1985-88) – 1,321
    Sarah Trowbridge (2003-06) – 1,321
8. Mary Beth Bishop (1981-84) – 1,299
9. Sara Falcone (2007-10) – 1,297
10. Payton Kirchhoefer (2021-pres.) – 1,232