Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Pittsburg, Kan.  The Western Colorado Volleyball team drops two games on day one of the Gorilla Classic Tournament both by scores of 3-2.

The Mountaineers took a 2-0 lead to start the first set then jumped 4-1. Points were traded but the Bearcats had the advantage tying the set at eight-a-piece. WCU sprung to a 13-9 edge, but SWBU rallied back to an even game 13-13. The neck and neck match saw the score 23-23. The Bearcats capitalized on their final two serves taking set one, 25-23.

Set two was another equal match with points traded back and forth. At 13-a-piece, the Bearcats gained their only lead of the set 15-14. The Mountaineers took the reins, playing exceptionally on both sides of the ball, resulting in a victorious second set 25-21.

SWBU stepped up and took over the third set. WCU earned a 3-0 advantage to begin but the Bearcats held power the rest of the time leading to a 25-13 win.

The fourth set was a must win for the Mountaineers to stay alive. Another back-and-forth competition between the two teams, points traded, and leads changed every few serves. Finally, the score was tied 24-24. Two kills by senior Seyun Park assisted by senior Nur Turkmenoglu secured the fourth set dub for WCU 26-24.

Each team with a chance to walk away with it all, the final set was a thriller. SWBU on the board first, but WCU answered back with a 3-1 gain keeping the lead until the Bearcats tied the game 7-7. Three points in a row for the respective teams, another tie 10-10. The Bearcats never gave up the lead, taking the set 15-13 and winning the match 3-2.

Park and Junior Maggie Olson led the Mountaineers with 18 kills each. Turkmenoglu finished with two kills and 54 assists. Sophomore Inoue Chinaru contributed 36 digs and seven assists.

Oklahoma Christian was first on the board to start game two. An attack error awarded WCU a point and the following serve. This set was a back-and-forth contest as the teams traded early points up to a 15-14 Mountaineer advantage. Western began to pull away with a 24-16 lead but the Eagles scored four in a row to keep things interesting. A kill by senior Kennedy Kelly from Turkmenoglu closed out set one 25-20.

OCU turned the tables on WCU in set two. The Eagles got an early advantage. They kept the momentum up, never giving up the lead and taking the set 25-20.

A slow start for WCU turned into kill after killer after kill until they were up by ten 18-8. The Mountaineers battled to continue the advantage, stretching the score 22-12. The Eagles got a point here and there, but it was not enough. Western took the third 25-15.

Another nail bitter set, both teams looking strong offensively and defensively. Trading points seeing the score at 14-14. Oklahoma started to pull away and clutching set four 25-18. WCU powered through but came up short, dropping the final set 15-13.

Olson finished game two with 22 kills followed by junior Olive Rolseth with 12. Turkmenoglu walked away with 46 assists.

With the conclusion of today's games, the overall records of the three teams read Western Colorado 0-2, Southwest Baptist 1-0, and Oklahoma Christian 1-0. The Mountaineers are back in action Saturday September 7 at 8AM MT and 1PM MT for the second and final day of the Gorilla Classic Tournament.

For more information visit gomountaineers.com.