Box score

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- The SBU Bearcats came up short against the Griffons of Missouri Western in a tight four set contest. Missouri Western took the first set at 25-23, before SBU rallied to tie with a 25-21 second set win. The Griffons edged the Bearcats in the third, 26-24, and in the fourth, 25-23.

Lauren Noble had an SBU season high with 37 digs while Brianna Wallace had 39 assists. Ashley Jurgensmeyer led with 13 kills and a .344 attack percentage. Madison Benton led MWSU with 36 assists and 21 digs.

MWSU used a 10-3 run in the first set to pull ahead 15-8, before SBU would rally to tie at 20. The Griffons would take the first set by a narrow 25-23 margin. The second set featured seven ties and four lead changes. After being tied at 17, SBU picked three quick points from the serves of Mandy Brady and went on to win 25-21.

The third was even tighter with eight ties and six lead changes. The teams were tied at 21 through 24 points, before the Griffons picked up the last two points to win 26-24. SBU lead 15-7 midway through the fourth set before the Griffons used a 14-6 streak to tie the set at 21 each, and would go onto to win 25-23.

SBU falls to 10-20 and 3-11 in the MIAA while Missouri Western moved to 9-19 overall and 2-13 in the MIAA. SBU hosts Northwest Missouri State at 2 p.m. (tomorrow) Saturday at the Meyer Sports Center.