Box Score | Season Stats

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- Freshman Britni Reed set a new career high with 15 kills, and junior hitter Ashley Jurgensmeyer closed to within 10 kills of the all-time SBU record, but it wasn't enough, as the Missouri State Lions edged by the Bearcats, 3-2.

After SBU stepped out to a 4-2 lead early in the opening set, the Lions came back and led throughout most of the match, with as much as a seven point lead, at 20-13. The 'Cats climbed back, highlighted by a five-point run served up by Iceley Perry, which cut the Southern lead to 21-18. SBU was able to force a tie at 24-24 with one of Reed's two service aces on the night, but the Lions took the next two points for the win, 26-24.

The Bearcats bounced back in the second set, getting out to a 5-1 lead and forcing Missouri Southern to burn a timeout. SBU held the lead throughout the set thanks to a .350 hitting percentage. Twenty-five digs helped the 'Cats hold Southern to just a .136 hitting percentage, as SBU took the set, 25-21.

SBU again took command early in the third set, and never gave up the lead, in a 25-18 win. Jurgensmeyer, along with outside hitter Kylie Heim led the 'Cats with six kills apiece, as SBU recorded a .441 hitting percentage. Jurgensmeyer and Heim combined for a .688 percentage (12-for-16 with one error).

Facing elimination, the Lions opened up the fourth set with the first three points, but the Bearcats were able to tie the match at 4-4 after a Southern attack error. SBU built up a four-point lead, thanks in part to back-to-back kills from Jenna Isaacs, but the Lions answered back with four straight points and eventually retook the lead, 13-12, for the remainder of the set.

SBU narrowly led the first half of the final set, when Jurgensmeyer's 14th kill gave the 'Cats an 8-7 lead. Southern took the next four points and a 12-8 advantage in the first-to-15 set. Kills from Heim and Joanna Granzow, and an error from the Lions brought SBU to within one, but Missouri Southern would take three of the final four points to close out the match, 15-12.

Reed and Heim led the 'Cats with 15 kills apiece, while Jurgensmeyer recorded 14, and Isaacs 11. Senior Marcy Greenwade had a career-high 32 digs, 10 more than her previous best this year, against Montevallo. Setter Brianna Wallace had 49 assists, just short of what would have been her fourth 50+ assist performance of the season.

With the loss, SBU falls to 7-14 on the year, and 2-7 in the MIAA. The Bearcats are back in action Saturday, October 16, as they take on Pittsburg State, at 2 p.m.