Defense Shines as Volleyball Holds Off Gorillas

Box Score || Season Stats

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. - - Allyson Stellmach and Meghan Zimmerman both tallied new career-highs in digs, as the 20^th-ranked Truman volleyball defense held visiting Pittsburg State into hitting just .053 in a 3-1 (-12, -20, 22-25, -16) win on Friday night in Pershing Arena.

The Bulldogs (20-4, 8-2 MIAA) averaged 22 digs per set and sided-out at a 66% clip to notch its 11^th consecutive victory and pick up win No. 20 on the season. The Truman program has now reached the 20-win mark in 23 straight seasons.

Truman was never threatened in a quick first set and scored four in a row to close out the second set for a 25-20 victory. The third set, however, was a struggle offensively for both teams, as PSU (11-10, 2-7 MIAA) picked up a three-point win despite hitting just .038 in the frame.

The fourth set was all Truman, though, as Allie Brak (The Colony, Texas, The Colony) recorded six of her 12 kills, and Stellmach (Huntley, Ill., Huntley) logged eight of her match-high 19 digs to earn the 25-16 closing win.

On a night when the Bulldog attack struggled, hitting just .182 overall, it was the defense that shined, out-digging the Gorillas 88-72 and putting four players in double-figures. Joining Stellmach and Zimmerman (Papillion, Neb., Gross Catholic) (18) in the double-figure dig department were Abby Moser (Wildwood, Mo., Lafayette) (16) and Brak (14). Brak and fellow OH Ali Patterson (Lee's Summit, Mo., Lee's Summit) each finished the night with a dozen kills, while Megan Sharpe (Edwardsville, Ill., Edwardsville) added nine kills and seven blocks.

The two teams each finished with 10 blocks apiece, with the Gorillas out-acing the 'Dogs by one, 5-4.

The Bulldogs return to the floor tomorrow night for a 7:00 pm home match against the University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos. UCO swept Lindenwood 3-0 on Friday night.

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