WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- Aaliyah Burras continues to hit at a torrid pace. The senior middle hitter had 11 kills on 23 swings with only one error to hit .435 for Midwestern State on Friday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. However, Arkansas-Fort Smith hit .301 as a team and swept the Mustangs in the season's penultimate match, 25-23, 25-18, 25-20.

The Lions extended their winning streak to four matches and hit at least .300 for the fourth time this season. Kaelyn McDonald hit .529 with 11 kills, and Caelyn Gunn finished with 16 kills and a .205 attack percentage in the victory.

After falling behind 9-5 in the opening set, Burras helped MSU pull even with a solo block and a kill in a four-point run that knotted the frame, 9-9.

Gunn and McDonald each had a kill, and Hannah Holland had an ace as UAFS reclaimed a three-point lead in a set that had five ties but no lead changes.

Trailing 20-15, The Mustangs rallied to tie the set 22-22. Alex Serna had a block assist and a kill as part of a run that saw MSU score 5-of-6 points. Gunn had two of her six kills in the first set, and McDonald put down her fourth kill, as the Lions won three of the final four points to claim the lead, 1-0.

Gunn hit .556 in the second set with six kills on nine swings and only one error. The Lions won eight of the last 11 points in the set and cruised to a 2-0 lead.

Burras hit .500 and had four of the 12 kills in the third set for the Mustangs, who overcame a six-point deficit to take a 17-16 lead. But the Lions won seven of the final nine points to complete the sweep. Gunn and Holland combined for eight of the 17 UAFS kills in the set. The Lions closed the match by hitting .308 in the final set.

Taylor Anderson, a fifth-year senior, accounted for 11 points with 10 kills and two blocks for the Mustangs. Autumn Roach had 20 assists, and Taygon Jones finished with 14 of the 42 digs for Midwestern State.

Reagan Macha of Wichita Falls had nine digs, eight kills, three blocks and one of the six aces for UAFS.

The Lions improved to 16-12 overall with an 8-7 conference record and clinched a berth in the Lone Star Conference Tournament.

Midwestern State is 6-22 overall and 4-11 in the LSC. The Mustangs are 4-4 at home this season and host Oklahoma Christian in the season finale Saturday at 2 p.m.
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