Oct. 14, 2006
ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - Naiara Fernandes (Belo Horizonte, Brazil/Lee University) totaled 14 kills, and Carly Moyers (Eden Prairie, Minn./Louisiana Tech) added 11 kills, but it was not enough as West Florida dropped a 3-0 (30-24, 30-28, 30-25) decision to Northwest Missouri State on Saturday. West Florida ended the Henderson State University Classic with a 1-3 record. West Florida (15-12) lost for the fourth time in the last five matches. Northwest Missouri State (12-14) won their third game of the classic.
"Northwest Missouri was the best team that we played in the tournament," said head coach Melissa Wolter. "They were a very balanced and fundamentally-sound team."
With Northwest Missouri leading 16-15 in game one, the Bearcats scored four straight points on three kills and a service ace. Sarah Trowbridge recorded the final two Bearcat points on consecutive kills for the win.
Game two was a back-and-fourth affair as neither team held more than a two-point lead. With the score tied at 27, consecutive Argonaut attacks resulted in block assists for Bearcats Priscilla Bremer and Amy Bohnker. After a Christina Johnson (Farmington, Mo./Farmington HS) kill kept West Florida in the game, a Bohnker kill gave Northwest Missouri the win.
Northwest Missouri jumped out to an 8-3 lead in game three en route to the sweep. West Florida rebounded to cut the deficit to 23-22, but Northwest Missouri reeled off five straight points on two kills, two service aces and an Argonaut attack error. MacKenzie Heston recorded a kill on match point to give the Bearcats the win.
Along with her 14 kills, Fernandes added 17 digs. Danielle Spitzer (Birmingham, Ala./Western Carolina) added eight kills. Jerica Carter (Gainesville, Fla./Gainesville HS) added 17 digs, while Louann Rusch (Homestead, Fla./Westminster Christian) collected 14 digs. Heston posted a match-high 15 kills for Northwest Missouri.
"I think this tournament was the best thing that could have happened to us," said Wolter. "We were challenged, and it will make us a stronger team in our remaining conference matches."
West Florida will return to Pensacola for their final home stand of the 2006 season. The Argonauts will host 19th ranked North Alabama on Friday at the UWF Field House. The match will begin at 7:00 p.m.
