Box score
BOLIVAR, Mo. -- In Kelsey Stewart's final match, the SBU Bearcats gave the 21st-ranked Pitt State Gorillas a fight, dropping two close sets before falling, 3-1. Stewart had 14 kills in the season finale, tying the team-high with Alex Smith and Ashley Jurgensmeyer. Jurgensmeyer had a .440 hitting percentage, with 14 kills off of 25 attacks.
The opening set was back and forth the whole way, with 13 ties and 8 lead changes. Neither team could get more than a 2 point advantage until the very end of the set. With a 23-21 lead, Pitt State would take the next two points off an error by the Bearcats and a service ace to close out the set. The second set was just as close, especially late, as the match was tied at 20, 21, 22, and 23. A pair of kills by Pitt State however, would finish off the set, 25-23.
SBU would respond in the third set, jumping out to a 7-1 lead early on. The lead would grow to as much as 12, after a pair of kills by Kylie Heim would make the score 20-8 in favor of the Bearcats. Pitt State would mount a comeback, however, cutting the SBU lead down to a single point, at 24-23. Stewart, the lone senior on this year's squad, would close the door with a kill, set up by Brianna Wallace, and the Bearcats were back in the match. Pitt State however would take control of the fourth set, taking a comfortable lead early. Helped by 10 SBU errors, the Gorillas went on to take the fourth set by a 25-10 score.
"When we attacked and executed our game plan, we looked really good," said SBU head coach Kelly Richardson after the match. "We can take this and keep building, and try to find some consistency for next season."
With 14 kills in her final match, Kelsey Stewart ranks fourth on SBU's all-time kills list, with 930 in her four year career. She is also 7th in career blocks, with 220.
"Kelsey played great for us tonight," commented Richardson. "She has been a physical and vocal leader for us throughout the season. We wish her the best of luck and we appreciate everything she's given to the program the last four years."
SBU wraps up the 2009 season with a record of 12-24, 5-15 in the MIAA. Pittsburg State improves their mark to 24-10 overall, and 14-6 in conference play.