Indianapolis, Ind. – The Missouri S&T women's volleyball team concluded the 2018 Midwest Region Crossover Tournament this Saturday (Oct. 13) on a disappointing note as the Miners were swept in three sets (25-15, 25-22, 25-23) by Northern Michigan at The Academy Volleyball Club.

The loss drops Missouri S&T's overall record to 13-10 on the season as the Miners finished the two-day (Oct. 12-13) regular-season tournament with a 1-2 mark.  The win puts Northern Michigan at 13-9 for the 2018 campaign.

A pair of Miners, sophomore right-side hitter Payton Gannaway (Lawrence, Kan./Lawrence Free State) and freshman right side-middle hitter Avery Reed (Ste. Genevieve, Mo./Ste. Genevieve) both tallied 10 kills to lead the way as the S&T posted a .143 hitting percentage for the contest.  Senior right-side hitter Ellen Schulz (Wildwood, Mo./Eureka) chipped in with seven kills for the Miners, who trailed 42-35 in kills.  Redshirt sophomore setter Sarah McGinnis (Middleton, Wis./Edgewood) totaled 19 assists for S&T and sophomore setter Aubrey Sowers (Coralville, Iowa/Iowa City West) supplied 11 helpers.

Junior defensive specialist-libero Corinne Stulce (St. Charles, Mo./Duchesne) was tops among all players with 20 digs.  Payton Gannaway (Lawrence, Kan./Lawrence Free State) chalked up a squad-most three block assists and freshman middle hitter Kiernan O'Boyle (Kansas City, Mo./St. Teresa's Academy) contributed two block assists. 

Northern Michigan, which recorded a .300 hitting percentage for the match, was led by Maggie Liebeck's 13 kills and received a 10-kills performance from Autumn Monsma.  Wildcat setter Lynzi Svoboda totaled a match-leading 35 assists while Rachel Braunschweig's 14 digs paced NMU.
 
Set 1: NMU 25 – S&T 15
The first set saw NMU take an early 12-3 lead as the Wildcats maintained their advantage for the entire set.  The Miners, who ended up hitting at .088 percent to NMU's .519 efficiency, could get no closer than eight points as the Wildcats held a 20-10 lead at one juncture before taking the win. 
 
Set 2: NMU 25 – S&T 22
The Wildcats captured the second set, but S&T forced them to earn it.  An Ellen Schulz (Wildwood, Mo./Eureka) kill allowed the Miners' to cut their deficit to 21-20 and an exchange of points followed as NMU would hold a 22-21 edge.  Another single point exchange occurred to make it 23-22 Wildcats and NMU would claim the set as a result of a S&T service error and a kill of its own at set point. 

Set 3: NMU 25 – S&T 23
S&T scored the third set's initial point, but was unable to hold the advantage as NMU snapped a 15-all tie with three consecutive points to take an 18-15 lead.  The Miners managed to get within 22-21 as a result of a Wildcat attack miscue and then again at 23-22 following a kill by redshirt freshman outside hitter Aly VanCardo (St. Louis, Mo./Lindbergh).  However, a service error gave a point back to NMU only to have an attack error award S&T with a point to make it 24-23 in favor of the Wildcats.  On set point, NMU hammered a kill to conclude both the set and the match.   
   
Up Next: The Miners resume Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) action next Friday, Oct. 19, taking on the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles in Evansville, Ind., with opening serve at 7 p.m. (CT).  S&T then travels to Louisville, Ky., next Saturday, Oct. 20, for a 3 p.m. (ET) conference matinee versus the Bellarmine Knights to wrap up the two-match weekend road swing.

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