CARLINVILLE, Ill. – Mississippi University for Women volleyball saw its season come to a close in a St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) tri-match at Blackburn College. Needing a win in its first match of the day versus host BC, the Owls (7-20, 4-13 SLIAC) lost, 3-2 (25-14, 25-22, 22-25, 21-25, 15-10), before closing out 2023 with a win over Principia College, 3-0 (25-11, 25-13, 25-15).
 
Entering the day one game behind Blackburn in the standings, MUW needed a win to have a chance to reach the SLIAC tourney, instead of the Beavers, based on tie-breaker criteria. And both teams battled like you might expect with a post-season opportunity in waiting, by playing five sets for the second time this season.
 
After the Beavers jumped out to a 10-3 lead in set one, Maggie Griggs served up five winning points – including three aces – as The W climbed to within a pair, 10-8, but would get no closer. Set two saw BC race out on 9-0 run to open matters, before MUW battled back and got to within a single point, 21-20, after an ace by Madison Suggs. But the Beavers closed the door the rest of the way and went up 2-0 in the match.
 
With its back to the wall, The W came out swinging in set three, leading 7-0 and cruising to the win. Set four saw Blackburn leading 10-5. But MUW caught the Beavers at 14-14 after three winning serves by Hannah Duran. From that point on, neither team led by more than three points as the Owls hung on to force the deciding fifth set.
 
A side out and an ace saw The W grab an early 2-0 lead in the finale, before the two teams played seven-consecutive side-out points. BC made it 5-5, before trading points six more times. The Beavers reeled off three straight points that elicited an MUW timeout, down 10-8. But Blackburn managed to go on a 5-2 run to close out the match and clinch the final SLIAC tournament berth.
 
Amonie Silas led the Owls' attack with 13 kills. Madyson McBrayer added 10 kills and had a match-best .364 attack average in 22 attempts. Griggs finished the match with seven kills and a match-high five aces.
 
The W setter trio of Duran, Karmen McCrory, and Camryn Johnson gave off 15, 11, and nine assists, respectively. Duran added 14 digs and defensive specialist Allison Carpenter made 11 digs. Senior libero Madison Suggs led all players with 33 digs.
 
In the season's final match versus Principia College, the Owls dominated the numbers. MUW outhit the Panthers, .310 to .057 (38-22 in kills) and had a 10-2 margin in aces, as well.
 
It was the duo of Silas and Llayne Skinner heading the offense with 12 and eight kills. Silas hit a solid .409, with Skinner close behind at .381 for the match. Skinner also chipped in 14 digs.
 
Suggs one again led the defense with 28 digs in her career capper.
 
McCrory and Johnson closed out their MUW careers with 14 and 12 assists. McCrory, Johnson, Suggs, and Skinner had two aces, apiece, in the victory.