Box Score (Pensacola, Fla.) – The Missouri S&T volleyball team opened its season on Friday dropping a hard fought battle 3-1 (14-25, 25-22, 23-25, 20-25) at 19^th ranked West Florida. The match featured 18 ties and seven lead changes.

The Miners (0-1) dug themselves an early hole in the opening set trailing by seven. They were able to cut the lead to three, but the Argonauts scored six of the next seven points to take a commanding lead on its way to the set win. S&T had nine kills in the opening frame but committed seven errors while UWF (1-0) recorded 10 kills against only two errors. Hayley Wright (Omaha, Neb./Millard West) and Holly Tarvin (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs) combined for five kills in the set.

The Miners trailed by three early in the second set before going on an 8-2 run to take the lead. S&T took advantage of six Argonaut errors in the run. West Florida rallied to tie the set at 14-14, but the Miners retook the lead on a kill from Tarvin which sparked a 6-1 surge. The Argonauts responded with a run of their own to retake the lead at 21-20 on a service. S&T wouldn't yield though scoring five of the last six points to win the set and even the match at 1-1. The Miners hit 19 percent in the second set recording eight kills in 26 chances. Krista Haslag (Linn, Mo./Helias ) had three kills while Aliie Plunk added two more.

S&T got off to a fast start in the third set building an eight-point lead. West Florida would rally eventually tying it up at 18-all on a kill by Jenny Bellairs. Plunk gave the Miners the lead back on the next point, but it was their last of the set as the Argonauts ended it by scoring seven of the last 11 points to win 25-23. Haslag was force in the third set registering seven kills and had a pair of blocks.

In the fourth set it was UWF racing out to the early advantage scoring eight of the first nine points. S&T battled back to tie it at 16-16 on an ace from Haslag, but couldn't take the lead as the Argonauts finished the match with a 9-4 run. Haslag was again tough to contain finishing with six kills in the set. Wright, Gracey Moon (Kirkwood, Mo./Kirkwood) and Dana Shannon (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake Central) had two kills each.

S&T finished the match hitting 15.6 percent recording 45 kills in 141 chances. Haslag finished with a match-high 17 kills while Wright added eight more. Plunk dished out 33 assists while Emily Jaeger (St. Louis, Mo./St. Joseph's Academy) led the way with 12 digs. Plunk and Caitlin Brocker (Crystal Lake, Ill./Marian Central ) added 11 digs apiece.

West Florida hit 17.9 percent for the match also registering 45 kills in 140 chances. Lindsay Homme led with with 13 kills off the bench while Autumn Duyn added 10. KC Dobbins distributed 20 assists while Duyn and Tori Martella had 13 digs apiece.