Nash posts fifth triple-double to lead MSSU volleyball past Newman

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Morgan Nash posted her fifth triple-double of the season to lead the Lions past visiting Newman, three sets to one tonight. Individual set scores were 24-26, 25-20, 25-22 and 25-16.

The Lions (12-10, 5-7 MIAA) posted 11 team blocks in the match. Nash had 13 kills, 11 assists and 11 digs, while Janelle Brehm had ten kills and eight digs. CC Pollard had ten kills, as well, while Brooklynn McCain had 15 digs. Alyssa Diaz and Makenzie Fa'amausili-Cacoulidis posed six blocks, while Alicia Pickett had four.

Newman (0-21, 0-11 MIAA) was led by Trinity Conley who had 14 kills, while Raegen Roth had 38 assists and 12 digs.

Southern led for much of the first set, and led 22-18 late, forcing a Newman timeout. The Jets, however, came out of the timeout to tie the set at 22 and then again at 23, before going up 24-23 to force a Southern timeout. The Lions tied the set at 24, but the Jets scored the final two points to take and early 1-0 lead.

Set two saw two tied scores and two lead changes, but a 5-1 run late by the Lions put Southern up 22-17 and forced a timeout for the Jets. The Lions would hold on to take the set.

Southern utilized a 10-0 run late in the third set to pull away. Trailing 21-13, Nash served out ten-straight points to put the Lions up 23-21, forcing two timeouts for the Jets during the run. Newman stopped the run and got within one (23-22), but the Lions held on to win.

Despite there being three ties and three lead changes in the fourth set, they were all in the first eight points. The Lions broke a 3-3 tie early on and never trailed from there on out.

Southern will be on the road this weekend at No. 14 Northwest Missouri on Friday and No. 10 Central Missouri on Saturday.