Location:  Mission University (W.E. Dowell Fieldhouse) Springfield, Missouri
Date:  October 15, 2024
Game Results: Mission University 3, Hannibal-LaGrange University 2
In the opening set, the Mission University Lady Patriots and the Hannibal-LaGrange Lady Trojans gave the crowd a sense of things to come as the score and lead fluctuated frequently.  The set was tight until the Lady Patriots took a four point lead, then expanded it to as much as six, 15-9.  Hannibal-LaGrange came roaring back to within 16-14 in what would turn out to be one of the many momentum swings in the match.  MU righted themselves and squeezed out a 25-22 set 1 win.  The team was led in Kills by Allison Czachowski and Summer Kenney who each had four.  In the second set, the Lady Trojans jumped out to a big eight-point lead, 10-2 and 11-3, before the Lady Patriots finally started playing together to rally to within 15-13, and then 18-16.  The Lady Trojans then took momentum back to win the set 25-19.  The hitting for the Lady Pats dropped off on both ends, offensively and defensively, in set 2.  Ella Sims and Kenney led the team with 3 Kills apiece.  Again the momentum shifted, this time in Mission's favor in the third set.  The Lady Patriots quickly took a ten point advantage, up 14-4, then rolled to an easy 25-11 third set victory.  The Lady Trojans struggled with their receiving and hitting in the third set, but MU countered that with good hitting.  A trio of Lady Patriots smacked 3 Kills each; Sims, Kenney, and Czachowski.  In the fourth set, the Lady Trojans gradually worked to an 11-7 margin and maintained a two to three point advantage for much of the set.  Toward the end of the fourth set, the Lady Patriots again battled poor receiving and passing, which ultimately cost them the set.  HLU tied the match at two sets apiece with a 25-16 fourth set win.  Kenney paced the MU attack with 5 Kills in the fourth set.  In the fifth set tie-breaker, the Lady Patriots took an 8-4 lead as the teams switched sides of the court.  That mini-break seemed to revive the Lady Trojans as they scored three straight points to pull to within 8-7.  The teams traded points until momentum seemed to shift in HLU's direction to tie the set at 10-10 causing a Mission timeout.  The set remained tight the rest of the way and at two points, 13-14, and 14-15, the Lady Trojans were on the verge of victory.  Somehow the Lady Pats found a way, scoring four of the last five points to claim an 18-16 fifth set win, and the match.  Ella Sims and Summer Kenney were the power source during the decisive fifth set as each hammered 5 Kills.

• Summer Kenney led the team in Kills with 20, while also hitting .327.
• Ella Sims paced the squad in hitting with .438, while knocking down 16 Kills.
• Allison Czachowski had 11 Kills and a strong .429 hitting percentage.
• Janalyn Kralicek edged Ryleigh Fowler to lead the team in Assists as they tossed up 23 and 22, respectively.
• Rylea King led four teammates in double figures with 22 Digs for the match.
• Abbi Street and Kralicek served 3 Service Aces each.

Upcoming action:
The Volley Patriots remain home for a Thursday, October 17, match as the host to highly regarded Missouri Baptist University in an AMC contest.  The match is slated for a 6 pm start.