Coming off with a losing weekend tournament, the Missouri Southern volleyball team defeated the Drury Panthers 3-1.

“I was very happy with our win Tuesday night,” said Chris Willis, head volleyball coach. “Although we went 0-3 throughout the tournament this weekend, all those teams we played were very good. I don’t feel it was a disappointing weekend. I believe we truly got better.”

Last weekend, the Lions were in the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Invitational Sept. 2-3. The Lions finished the tournament 0-3.

In the first game, the Lions faced Southern Indiana where the Lions lost the match 1-3.

Ashley Hill, freshman outside hitter, led the Lions with 15. points and 13 defensive digs followed by Sarah Hoffmeister, junior outside hitter, with 13 points and 11 defensive digs.

The Lions then faced the SIUE Cougars. The Lions lost the match 0-3.

Hoffmeister lead the team with 10 points and tied with Hill with 10 kills.

The final game of the tournament was against Northern Michigan. The Lions lost the match 1-3. Ashley Mehrer Junior middle hitter led the lions with 16.5 points and 12 kills, followed by Hill with 14 points and 12 kills. Trailing behind the two, Hoffmeister had 13.5 points and 13 kills.

On Sept. 3, the Lions defeated the Panthers 3-1.

“I was very happy hard work paid off,” Willis said. “Wins and losses take care of themselves and our game last night was the payoff. I was very happy with my team last night, but Sarah Joles did an excellent job with her career high of 55 assist.”

Hoffmeister led the Lions with 23.5 points and 21 kills with Hill following with 18.5 points and her season best of 18 kills. Mehrer led the Lions with .556 hitting percentage and Megan Norman ended the night’s game with her career best of 30 defensive digs.

The Lions play there next game against the University of Missouri-St. Louis at 1 p.m. and North Alabama at 3 p.m. in the Central Missouri State Invitational.