WEST PLAINS, Mo. – The Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly Volleyball team upped its season record to 12-5 Wednesday evening, Sept. 28, with a 25-20, 25-13, 25-17 victory over East Central College of Union, Mo., at the West Plains Civic Center arena.

“I thought we really played well,” Grizzly Volleyball Head Coach Paula Wiedemann said.  “Our transition game was the best it’s been all season.  We earned a lot of points off defense, and that’s what you want to see.”

Wiedemann said East Central, a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II team, was a very worthy opponent, despite the final scores.  “They did some good things and made us stay on point, but we just transitioned well and got points off our blocks,” she explained.

The coach also said she was very pleased with the consistent play of her team across the board.  Freshmen outside attackers Aerielle Edwards and Candyce Alexander led the Grizzlies’ offensive efforts at the net with 11 kills each.  Alexander had a slight edge over Edwards in attacking percentage with .435 compared to Edwards’ .429.  Alexander also led the team in passing rating with a 2.66.  Freshman setter Ezgi Guney led the team in assists with 35 and aces with three.

Defensively, Edwards led the team at the net with 1.5 blocks, and sophomore libero Abby Hanger paced the Grizzlies in the backcourt with 15 digs.  Edwards led the team in points earned with 12.5, followed closely by Alexander with 11.5.

“Aerielle and Candyce took some great swings.  They were both very efficient,” Wiedemann said.  “Abby took care of the ball really well.  She had lots of touches and great ball control, which cleared everyone else up to do what they needed to do.  Her aggressiveness really helped our transition game, and we want her to continue to do that.”

Strong backcourt play on defense was key to the Grizzlies’ strong transition play, Wiedemann said.  The team had an overall passing rating of 2.31, and six players recorded six or more digs for the evening.

Wiedemann also praised freshmen middle attackers Magda Zietek and Bri’Ja Watterson, both of whom have improved their transitions since the first of the year.  “The more we get out of them in transition, the more we get out of everyone else,” the coach explained.  Watterson had eight kills, and Zietek four.

The Grizzlies are on the road today, traveling to Liberal, Kan., where they will take part in the Seward County Community College Invitational Tournament Friday and Saturday, Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.

For more information about the Grizzly Volleyball program, visit the team’s website at http://www.websightmaster.com/grizzly/.