The Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly Volleyball team went on its final road trip of the regular season last week, winning five of the six games they played in a four-day span.
The Grizzlies (14-18) started the trip Wednesday, Oct. 23, with a 21-25, 25-20, 22-25, 25-17, 15-13 win over Region 16 rival Mineral Area College (MAC) in Park Hills. The Grizzlies’ statistical leaders against MAC were sophomore outside attacker Kelly Wiedemann with 21 kills, a .340 attacking percentage, and 23 points earned; sophomore setter Julia Dunning with 61 assists; freshman outside attacker Maju Loureiro with a 2.50 passing rating and 16 digs; and freshman middle blocker Najla Bray with three blocks.
Thursday, they completed the Region 16 regular season against Jefferson College in Hillsboro with a 23-25, 25-17, 23-25, 22-25 loss. Sophomore outside/middle attacker Camilly Cristiny had 18 kills and a .308 attacking percentage; Dunning recorded 44 assists; Loureiro had a 2.47 passing rating; Bray recorded five blocks; sophomore libero Emily Moore had 23 digs.
Friday and Saturday, they competed in the Jefferson College Halloween Classic, winning all four contests, including a hard-fought, five-set battle against No. 6 Iowa Western Community College (IWCC).
Friday’s wins included a 25-12, 25-16, 25-14 victory over Vincennes University and a 23-25, 21-25, 25-21, 25-16, 16-14 win over Illinois Central College (ICC), ranked eighth in NJCAA Division II.
Saturday, the Grizzlies defeated John A. Logan College 26-24, 25-13, 28-26 before taking the measure of the Iowa Western Reivers 21-25, 25-20, 21-25, 25-23, 19-17.
For the tournament, the Grizzlies’ statistical leaders included Loureiro with 61 kills and four service aces, Dunning 183 assists, Watkins 10 blocks and Moore 72 digs.
The Grizzlies will close out the regular season at 6:30 pm Wednesday when they host East Central College from Union in a Missouri Community College Athletic Conference (MCCAC) contest at the West Plains Civic Center.
It will be a busy evening as the Grizzlies recognize the team’s sophomores; raise money for the Ozarks Medical Center Cancer Treatment Center through the sale of T-shirts and collection of monetary donations; and host a food drive for Samaritan Outreach Center that is sponsored by the university’s Student Government Association, Student Nurses Association and Phi Beta Lambda student business organization. Those who bring six food items to the game will receive free admission, head coach Paula Wiedemann said.
Following the game, the Grizzlies will host a student appreciation pizza party.
