Location:  Cottey College (Cottey Gym) Nevada, Missouri
Date:  October 3, 2024
Game Results:  Mission University 3, Cottey College 1
The Mission University Lady Patriots got into a groove early in set 1 and then held on in set 1, as they edged Cottey College 25-23 to begin the match.  After a 5-0 MU start to set 1, the Cottey College Lady Comets could never get closer than four points.  Ella Sims paced the Lady Pats with 5 Kills in the opening set.  In the second set, the Lady Comets took an early 3-2 lead, then the Lady Patriots came alive for a 7-0 run to take a 9-3 advantage.  During that run Sims had two Service Aces and the Lady Comets had three Attack Errors.  Cottey eventually cut the deficit down to two, 12-10, midway through the set.  MU established a good rhythm at that point, and never let the lead drop below four points on the way to a 25-19 second set win.  Maddie Rue and Sims each knocked down 4 Kills in the second set.  The third set was a battle from the start.  There were five ties in the early going, but eventually Cottey seized a little momentum that gave them a two to three point advantage through the middle of the set.  Near the end of the set, the Lady Patriots found themselves down 24-19 and gave a good effort to try to end the match in three sets.  After three straight points to pull within 24-22, a Lady Patriot hitting error led to a 25-22 third set victory for the Lady Comets.  Allison Czachowski nailed 4 Kills to lead the Lady Pats in the third set.  In the fourth set, the score was tied five times, the last being 11-11, before MU had a 5-0 run that put some distance between them and their opponent.  That momentum seemed to carry over shortly after, as the Lady Patriots then went on a 9-0 run to end the set, and match, 25-12.  Summer Kenney had the hot arm in the fourth set as she pounded down 7 Kills against the Lady Comets.    

• Summer Kenney led the team in Kills with 14, and added .303 hitting.
• Ella Sims knocked down 13 Kills, while hitting a team-high .423.
• Maddie Rue hit .273 for the match.
• Ryleigh Fowler had 22 Assists to pace the squad.
• Rylea King led four teammates in double figure digs, as she gathered in 19 Digs for the match.

                       
 
Upcoming action:
The Volley Patriots travel up Highway 13 on Tuesday, October 8, to Bolivar to take on the NCAA Division II Southwest Baptist University Lady Bearcats.  The match is slated for 6 pm.