Bearcats win five-setter over Southwest Baptist

Northwest Missouri State's volleyball team kept its share of fifth place in the MIAA and returned to the .500 mark with a come-from-behind 3-2 win over Southwest Baptist Tuesday night in Bolivar.

The Bearcats (15-15, 9-8) lost the second and third sets (14-25, 24-26) to fall behind 2-1 in the match, but recovered to win the fourth set 25-18 and the deciding fifth set 15-12.

Northwest also claimed the first set 25-17.

The Bearcats overcame pair of two-point deficits in the final set, the last one at 11-9.

The Bearcats responded with a four-point run that included two kills by Abby Graves and closed out the match with a service ace from Dallas Gardner.

This was Northwest's second five-set win over the Purple Bearcats (9-22, 2-15).

Northwest totaled 60 kills in the match, accounting for all but 13 of the team's points.

Graves put down a match-high 19 kills. Middle blocker Mackie Keller hammered home 13 on .273 hitting. Brooke Bartosh added 10.

Gardner dished out 52 assists and had the second highest dig total of 24 for a double-double. Tori Beckman had a match-high 36 digs.

SBUs kill leaders were Jenna Isaacs and Jordan Nedbalek with 10. Nedbalek, who hit .321, also had a match-high eight blocks.

Northwest has one more regular season match remaining with Truman State Saturday at 7 p.m. at Bearcat Arena.

The Bearcats are currently tied with Emporia State for fifth place and can't finish lower than sixth in the conference.