September 13, 2002
Truman Wins Conference Volleyball Opener Over Missouri Southern
The Truman State University volleyball team, ranked 17th in the country, sweeped Missouri Southern on Friday night by scores of 30-18, 30-25 and 30-26. The win improved the Bulldogs record to 5-4 on the season and 1-0 in conference play while the Lady Lions fell to 5-6 overall and 0-1 in conference.
Truman had an attack percentage of .262 on the night led by All-Region setter Monica Marlowe who recorded 46 assists in the three games. Kelly Vogel had a team-high 17 kills and just four errors in 43 attempts. Annie Nickolai was also in double-figures in kills with 12. Defensively, four Truman players had double-digit digs totals led by Jessica Sears with 13. Marlowe and Shelby Ortwerth each had 12 digs and Rebecca Knefelkamp added 10. Micaela Walter had four blocks, including three solos.
Missouri Southern was led by Jessie Puszewski who had 11 kills but Truman was able to hold her to just a .079 attack percentage. Amy Little had a team-high 15 digs and Kym Mutert led the Lady Lions with 35 assists.
The first game was close early on with both teams being tied at 16. The Bulldogs jumped ahead though shorty after as Megan Remley scored six straight points off her serve to give Truman a comfortable 25-17 lead and eventually the 30-18 win. Four Bulldogs had four or more kills in the first game as the team hit .400 for the game.
Game two was all Truman as they jumped out to a 3-0 lead and led by as much as eight points at 26-18 before a late Missouri Southern rally made the final 30-25. Vogel had five kills in the second game and Nickolai had four kills and one error in seven attempts.
The Bulldogs appeared to be in trouble at the start of the third game as they quickly fell behind 9-3. Truman fought back to briefly tie the game at 10 and then took the lead for good at 18-17. Remley again had the hot serving hand as Truman scored eight straight points with her serving to take a 24-17 lead Missouri Southern fought back and were within two points on two occassions but could never retake the lead as Truman closed them out 30-26. Vogel had eight kills for Truman and Marlowe added 17 assists in the final game.
The win was the 17 consecutive conference victory for Truman and its 23rd straight victory at Pershing Arena.
Truman will be back in action Saturday afternoon in Pershing Arena at 1:00 p.m. against conference rival Pittsburg State.