SPRINGFIELD, MO  —  Missouri S&T fell to Drury 3-1 at the O'Reilly Family Event Center on Friday, going to extra points in the first and third sets. Despite the final score, S&T found momentum in several key areas—most notably at the net, where the Miners recorded 10 team blocks for their second-most in a Great Lakes Valley Conference match this season.

The opening frame was a back-and-forth affair featuring 11 ties and 7 lead changes. After trading points up to 7-7, Drury went on a 3-0 run to take a small lead. The Miners picked up back-to-back kills and a block assist from Kate Zipprich (Hardin, IL/Calhoun) to fuel a 4-0 run for the Miners that put them up 12-11, but the Panthers mirrored S&T's run with four straight points of their own to retake the lead. Avery Patton (Lathrop, MO/Truman) and Addie Schoenberger (Menomonee Falls, WI/Hamilton Sussex) combined for a pair of block assists late, taking six points in a row to help the Miners take a 22-20 lead. Drury would close the set on a 5-1 run though, taking it 26-24. S&T's offense hit .263 in the set, the best in a set for either team in the match.

Drury jumped out to a quick lead in the second set with a 6-0 run, while the Miners fought to find rhythm. A couple of kills for Elly Decker (Manhattan, IL/Lincoln Way West) help the Miners cut into the deficit, making it 6-4. The Panthers never let the Miners draw even though, building their lead throughout the set. Trailing 23-13, Danielle Wilke (Palmer Lake, CO/Palmer Ridge) sparked a scoring run to help trim Drury's lead, with Shoenberger and Avery Patton (Lathrop, MO/Truman) adding kills before the Panthers took the set 25-18.

Missouri S&T flipped the momentum in the third, surviving a back-and-forth start to the set go up 9-6 thanks to an ace by Mya McClain (Fort Dodge, IA/St. Edmond) and a kill by Decker. Drury retook the lead a few points later, going up 13-12. Down 17-16, the Miners put together another 3-0 run with McClain at the service line, with Decker contributing another couple of kills in the run. The Miners had a chance to close the set at 24-22, but a couple of kills by the Panthers tied the score at 24-24. A kill by Lexi Kosmopolis (O'Fallon, IL/Newsome) gave S&T a second set point, this time leading to a Drury attack error that gave the Miners set three.

The final frame saw the Miners continue to battle, with Kate Zipprich (Hardin, IL/Calhoun) leading a late push that included a kill and two blocks. Despite an early 5-0 Drury run, S&T clawed back to within striking distance before the Panthers closed the set at 25–14 to take the match.

Decker and Patton tied for the most kills in the match, each contributing ten, while Kosmopolis led the defense with 19 digs, a personal-best in her time at the Division II level. Zipprich recorded 5 blocks, while Patton, Schoenberger, and Wilke each had four.

What's Next
The Miners return home next week to face Quincy on Friday as well as Illinois Springfield on Senior Night.

Sign up for our email blast at https://minerathletics.com/subscribe.aspx
Follow Miners Volleyball on X and Instagram at @miners_wvb