DENTON, Texas - Sadie Portmann posted her second double-double of the season with 11 kills and 18 digs, but Midwestern State fell to Missouri Southern, 25-22, 20-25, 15-25, 17-25, Saturday afternoon at Kitty Magee Arena in Denton. The Mustangs are winless in their three matches at the Denton Volleyfest and dropped to 1-6 on the season.

The 10 a.m. start did not seem to bother Midwestern State, which jumped out to a 10-4 lead over the Lions in the first set. Portmann and Kelli Ell each had two kills in the opening 14 points of the match. MSSU used a five-point run to overtake the Mustangs, 15-13, but Portmann and Robyn White would help Midwestern State reclaim the lead. MSU won 4-of-5 points to take a 23-20 lead, and Regan Willms assisted Lauryn Bourne with a kill to end the set.

Willms matched her season-high with 24 assists in the match and finished with 11 digs. Taygon Jones was tops on the team with 21 digs. Bourne and Aaliyah Burras each had eight kills for the Mustangs, who hit .096 in the loss. Burras recorded three blocks for Midwestern State.

The Mustangs took an 8-4 lead early in the second set, but the Lions woke up and won 15 of the next 18 points.

Following a 25-20 victory in the second set, Missouri Southern won the first 11 points in the third set and coasted to a 2-1 lead in the match.

Midwestern State threatened to even the match by establishing a 10-6 advantage in the fourth set, but an 18-5 run by the Lions dashed any hopes of forcing a decisive fifth set.

The Denton Volleyfest winds down as Midwestern State tangles with East Central (Okla.) Saturday at 4 p.m. Read Full Article