PITTSBURG, Kan. – SWOSU Volleyball picked up a pair of wins Thursday at the Gorilla Classic, defeating Truman State in four sets before handing previously unbeaten tournament host Pittsburg State its first loss of the season in a hard-earned sweep.
The wins move SWOSU to 4-3 on the season. The Bulldogs close out their second tournament of the season Friday at 11:30 a.m. against William Jewell.
SWOSU vs. Truman State
W, 3-1 (25-23, 23-25, 25-21, 25-22)
The Dawgs bounced back in a big way Thursday morning, putting together their best offensive performance of the young season in a four-set win over Truman State.
The Bulldogs erased a six-point deficit in the opening set and finished strong, breaking a 23-23 tie with the final two points to take the early advantage. Truman State answered by taking a similarly tight second set, 25-23, but SWOSU responded from there.
A 6-1 run in the third turned a 9-9 tie into a 15-10 Bulldog lead. SWOSU stretched the margin to eight before holding off a late Truman push for a 25-21 win. The Dawgs carried that momentum into the fourth, racing out to a 5-1 advantage and never trailing on the way to closing out the match.
SWOSU's offense produced across the board. The Bulldogs set a season high with 60 assists while matching their season best with 64 kills and reaching double-digit service aces for the second time this season. Four Dawgs reached double figures in kills as SWOSU hit .282 for the match.
Layla Collins turned in her best offensive performance of the season with 18 kills and four aces, both season highs, while hitting .311.
Katja Blanchat was efficient again with 12 kills and a .476 hitting percentage, while
Sydnee Winfrey added a season-high 13 kills and
Morgan Ritchie chipped in a season-best 10.
Mackenzie Sims directed the offense with a season-best 49 assists.
SWOSU vs. Pitt State
W, 3-0 (25-17, 25-22, 29-27)
SWOSU returned Thursday night and completed a perfect day at the Gorilla Classic with a hard-earned, straight-set win over tournament host Pittsburg State. The Gorillas entered the match with a 5-0 record.
The Bulldogs separated themselves late in the opening set, turning a 17-14 advantage into a 23-16 lead behind a 6-0 run before finishing off the 25-17 win. Set two stayed tight throughout, but SWOSU broke a 20-20 tie by scoring five of the final seven points to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
Pitt State appeared poised to shift the momentum in the third, building leads of 10-5 and 21-17 before reaching set point three different times. SWOSU refused to let the match reach a fourth. The Dawgs fought off all three chances and, tied at 27-27, got consecutive kills from
Jenna Houk and
Katja Blanchat to finish off the sweep, 29-27.
Houk turned in a match-high 16 kills while hitting .343 and added four blocks. Blanchat remained efficient with nine kills and just one error on 18 attacks for a .444 hitting percentage.
Sydnee Winfrey added seven kills and a match-high five blocks, while
Mackenzie Sims totaled 36 assists.
SWOSU hit .262 for the match and held Pitt State to .240, including just .125 in the opening set. The Bulldogs also finished with eight total blocks and six service aces.
