Paul Quinn Volleyball Battles but Falls to Missouri Valley in Three Sets
Marshall, Mo. – August 30, 2025 Paul Quinn College returned to the court Saturday morning for a matchup against Missouri Valley College but came up short in straight sets, 25–23, 25–10, 25–20. Despite the sweep, the Tigers showed fight in the opening and closing frames while continuing to develop rhythm early in the season.
Strong First Set Push
Paul Quinn opened the match with its most competitive set of the day, pushing the Vikings point-for-point before ultimately dropping a narrow 25–23 decision. The Tigers tallied nine kills in the frame, led by Jakayla Morrow and Carrie Weston, who provided steady swings to keep their side within striking distance.
Missouri Valley Responds
The second set saw Missouri Valley take control with a decisive 25–10 victory. Behind Juliana Oliveira's 11 kills and Rylee Adams' efficient .571 hitting percentage, the Vikings hit .333 as a team while holding Paul Quinn to just six kills. Errors proved costly for the Tigers, who committed nine attack miscues in the set.
Final Push by the Tigers
In the third set, Paul Quinn regrouped and showed resilience, again reaching nine kills and keeping the score close until late. Morrow led the Tigers with a team-high eight kills and nine points, while Weston contributed five kills and six and a half total points. Defensively, Spirit Phipps collected 11 digs to go along with 10 assists, and A'Niyah Harrison anchored the back row with 10 digs.
Paul Quinn Leaders
- Jakayla Morrow: 8 kills, 9.0 points
- Carrie Weston: 5 kills, 3 block assists, 6.5 points
- JaQuelle Felton: 2 kills, .333 hitting percentage
- Spirit Phipps: 10 assists, 11 digs, 1 kill
- A'Niyah Harrison: 10 digs
Match Comparison
- Kills: Missouri Valley 35 | Paul Quinn 24
- Hitting %: Missouri Valley .134 | Paul Quinn .010
- Digs: Missouri Valley 49 | Paul Quinn 48
- Blocks: Missouri Valley 4 | Paul Quinn 10
Looking Ahead
The Tigers continue tournament play this weekend with an eye toward turning close sets into wins. With emerging offensive leaders in Morrow and Weston and steady back-row defense from Harrison and Phipps, Paul Quinn will look to build confidence as nonconference play continues.