The Lady Cougars (20-6, 2-1 AMC), who were playing without starting junior libero Caitlin Myles who was sidelined with an injury, got off to a good start by taking the first set and were up 12-6 in the second set. However, Shawnee State (15-3, 4-0 AMC) rattled off 14 straight points and then went on to take the set and even the match at one set apiece. MVNU bounced back and took the third set and was looking to put the match away in the fourth set when starting sophomore middle hitter Gina Porto suffered an injury that forced her to come out of the match. The Lady Cougars continued to battle, but the Lady Bears were able to pull out the victory in five sets.

“Shawnee State is a very good team and is probably even better than they were last year,” said MVNU coach Paul Swanson about the Lady Bears, who won the AMC Tournament a year ago and advanced to the NAIA National Championship Opening Round. “We had an opportunity to pick up an important conference win and we just were not able to close it out. The effort was there and we definitely played hard, but we just could not pull it out.”

Junior outside hitter Jackie Albecht led the Lady Cougars with 17 kills and 12 digs, while Porto finished with 15 kills and five blocks before leaving the match. Senior setter Kaylin Austen handed out 44 assists with 12 digs and two aces, and freshman libero Kaylee Hewitt (above) posted a career-high 32 digs as she filled in for Myles. Senior right-side hitter Courtney Springer smashed nine kills to go with 17 digs and four blockes, while junior middle hitter Sarah Yutzy and senior outside hitter Julie Haumschild recorded six and five kills respectively.

MVNU will return to action on Thursday when the Lady Cougars will host the University of Northwestern Ohio in another important AMC match at 7:00 p.m. in the Physical Education Center.