FORT SMITH, Ark. - University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Volleyball tallied its first MIAA win of the year Saturday with a 25-16, 25-16, 28-26 victory over Missouri Southern at the Stubblefield Center.
UAFS weathered a 6-0 MSSU run in the opening set before rallying for a 17-16 lead and then scoring the final eight points of the set. The Lions hit .237 in the opening frame and held the visitors to 0.000.
The Lions finished strong again in set two, breaking a 12-12 tie with a 3-0 run before scoring seven of the final eight points of the set. Aspen Olson contributed to three points during the stretch run with two kills and a block while Bree Pardy had a pair of aces. UAFS hit .317 in set two.
UAFS looked to run away with set three with a 10-5 lead but Missouri Southern rallied to tie the set at 18. UAFS broke a 22-22 tie to force match point but MSSU scored back-to-back points to extend the set.
Missouri Southern held off two more match points before the Lions broke through on a block by Olson and Mayli Whetter.
UAFS hit .231 for the match led by 12 kills on a .500 attack percentage from Lydia Pitts. Olson added nine kills on a .417 percentage with five blocks while Codi Jackson added seven kills. Whetter dished out 31 assists and added nine digs and six blocks.
Abbey Jackson led the back row with 20 digs while Pitts recorded another double-double with 11 digs.
UAFS had a 7-3 edge in blocks and 5-3 advantage in aces.
The Lions continue their three-game homestand Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Stubblefield Center against Northeastern State.
