JOPLIN, Mo. – After splitting the opening day of the Missouri Southern Invitational on Friday, the Aggie volleyball team dropped both of their matches 3-1 on day two of the invite Saturday.

In the first match against the host Missouri Southern, CU hung tough with the Lions in all but the final set. Cameron held the lead for most of the first set, but every time they started to pull away, MSSU would make a run. CU was within one point of winning the set at 24-20, but the home team used a five point rally to take a 25-24 lead. The Aggies went back up by one twice, but a pair of kills and a CU error led to the Lions scoring three straight to win the frame 29-27.

Cameron would be the one to make a comeback in set two, falling behind 12-6 early. They then used a 9-1 run that was capped by an Arianna Navarrete service ace to go up 15-13. MSSU fought back to take a 21-20 lead, but the Aggies answered with a 5-2 run that included four kills and an ace to win the set 25-23.

The Aggies got behind early again in the third, but were able to come all the way back to tie the match at 22 thanks to a Navarrete kill. However, the Lions capitalized on a trio of CU errors and a block for the 25th point secure the win.

Missouri Southern dominated the final set, winning 25-15 while recording 15 kills and hitting .263. They limited the Black and Gold to just eight kills and a .088 attack percentage.

Katherine Manning recorded her first double-double of the season with 27 assists and 15 digs in the match, while Navarrete and Walia Franklin recorded 10 kills each and Sarah Wright led the squad with 11 kills. Additionally, the freshman Navarrete recorded three service aces for the second straight match and Desiree Marmolejo added 16 assists and four digs.

Against Black Hills State in their second match of the day, the Aggies got off to a great start, taking an 8-2 lead early in set one. After the Yellow Jackets came back to within one point at 15-14, CU used an 8-1 stretch to take back their big lead. A kill by Riana Blount secured the 25-17 win.

In set number two, BHSU was the one that went ahead early and Cameron was the one that had to come back. After trailing 16-7, the Black and Gold chipped away to get to within two thanks to a pair of kills by Franklin that capped a three point rally. However, the Yellow Jackets got a kill from Kindra Cerrone to end the frame, 25-22, and tie the match.

Black Hills State hit over .429 on the attack in the final two sets with 15 kills in a 25-21 set three win and 18 in the 25-18 fourth set victory. Cameron's season-best nine service aces was not enough to overcome BHSU's .343 attack percentage for the match.

Franklin totaled 20.0 points for the Black and Gold, recording 16 kills, two service aces, and three total blocks. Manning and Marmolejo both recorded double-doubles with a combined 38 assists, 21 digs, and four aces coming from the setter position.

After dropping the pair on Saturday, the Aggies fall to 1-3 on the season. They will face a similar situation next Friday and Saturday as they compete in the Southeastern Oklahoma State Classic. The squad will play the Savage Storm and Arkansas-Monticello on Sep. 13 and then Central Oklahoma and East Central on Sep. 14.