Griffon volleyball had a great season, ending with a 21-9 regular season record and 12-6 in the MIAA. The team, coached by Marian Carbin ’07, made its first postseason appearance since 2013 and was the fifth seed in the MIAA tournament.
The 20-win season gave the Griffons two back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 1997 and 1998.
In October, two athletes received MIAA Athlete of the Week honors: Jessie Thorup was named Hitter of the Week and Jordan Chohon was named Co-Specialist of the Week. Thorup averaged 4.54 kills per set over three wins with a .261 hitting percentage, and averaged 2.77 digs per set and had seven block assists. Chohon finished the 3-0 week with 140 assists, averaging 10.77 per set. The senior setter also had nine kills, four service aces, 47 digs and six blocks. Thorup and Chohon were also named to the All-MIAA First Team.
The soccer team, coached by Chad Edwards, had a winning season for the first time in the program’s history, 9-8-1. The team also broke or tied 17 team and individual records.
For the second straight year and second time in the team’s history, the women qualified for the MIAA post-season tournament and were seeded sixth. They lost to Northeastern State, 1-0, the team’s 10th 1-0 match of the season. In fact, the Griffon defense allowed more than one goal just once in more than 18 games.
In October, Sarah Lyle was named MIAA Goalkeeper of the Week, totaling 11 saves over two matches. She was also named to the All-MIAA second-team, and Sydney Andrews and Bridget Blessie were named to the third team. Taylor Gant, Ashlyn Powers and Drew Mantlo were honorable mentions.
Coach Jerry Partridge’s Griffon football team finished the season 6-5, marking 11 consecutive winning regular seasons. In the last game against Missouri Southern on Nov. 14, the team scored 63 points to the Lions’ 21, defeating Missouri Southern in Spratt Memorial Stadium for the first time since 2007.
On Nov. 7, the Griffons rushed for 387 yards and got career-high games from two running backs in a 34-17 at Nebraska-Kearney. Raphael Spencer rushed 31 times for a career-high 251 yards with two touchdowns. The senior also moved over 1,000 rush yards on the season for the third year in a row. Spencer ended the regular season with 4,234 career rushing yards. Josh Caldwell rushed 19 times for 153 yards and two touchdowns, also a career-high.
The team averaged more than 4,500 fans at its home games, including an attendance of 6,966 against Northwest Missouri State on Oct. 31.
A total of 18 Griffons were named All-MIAA, including Travis Anderson and Michael Jordan on the first team. Jordan was a unanimous choice.
In its final round of women’s golf for the fall season, Missouri Western finished in second place at the Lindenwood Fall Invitational with a score of 628 in the two-round event. The Griffons had three individuals finish in the top five of the tournament: Celine Lim, third; Shi Qing Ong, fourth; and Madison Romjue, fifth. Three of the team’s tournament scores this fall ended up being school records, including the now-school record of 298 that was set at the UCO/RCB Bank Classic on Oct. 6.
The men’s golf team finished the final round of the TVA Credit Union Invite with a final score of 948 over the two-day tournament in Killen, Alabama. The Griffons were led by Jakob Rudosky with a score of 233 in three rounds of golf. Ryan Hand finished the tournament firing a 234. Also, Hand finished fourth at the MWSU Holiday Inn Express Classic in October.
The golfers are coached by Greg Dillon.