Despite nine kills from senior Alyssa Berg, Missouri Western could not shake the nationally ranked University of Central Missouri Jennies in their home conference opener. Falling in a three game sweep 30-18, 30-12, 30-24. 

After hanging with the Jennies (17-1, 4-0 MIAA) for most of the first game, Western (6-10, 0-2 MIAA) seemed to lose their aggressiveness and UCM attacked freely, opening up a 15 point lead before the Griffons could break their serve again. The Jennies held Western to a microscopic .033 hit percentage. Coach Tiffany Mastin cited lack of focus as the main culprit.
 
“We looked at who was across the court from us,” Mastin said. “We looked across and saw the number five team in the country instead of just playing our game.”

Even with being down by two games in the set, the Griffons rallied to keep the final game close. Sophomore Audra Ridolfi led the team with six kills in the game before the Jennies were able to shut the door on the rally. 

“We came out at point ten and put them out of their game plan,” Mastin said. “[We] pushed them to make mistakes by swinging hard and put points where we needed to and made them make errors instead of us standing bewildered as far as to what happened. We have sparks of being a great team when we pull it together.”

The Griffons have faced a murder’s row of teams in the past week including losses at conference rival Truman State and St. Mary’s.  Berg, the lone Griffons’ senior, alluded to the team’s overall goals to get past these losses. 

“We focus by focusing on our own goals and our team goal,” Berg said. “It is about focusing on the same goal and pursuing the team goals to the end.”

Ridolfi, who is stepping up as a leader to the young squad, added her insight to the teams mental state after these defeats.

“We’ve talked and we know one thing,” Ridolfi said. “We know it’s not if we are going to be a good team, but when we are going to be a good team. I know we have to be motivated and we can’t do that on our own. I know I have to step up and be an acting senior rather than a sophomore.”

The Griffons continue their home conference schedule this week when they host Northwest Missouri State, Missouri Southern and Emporia State. The Saturday night game against Emporia is also their breast cancer awareness night where they will be accepting donations for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer foundation.