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(AP) -- Playing back-to-back matches on opening day at the Midwestern State Hampton Inn-vitational, the No. 20 Truman volleyball team finished with a split, defeating Nova-Southeastern (Fla.) 3-1 before falling 3-0 to host MSU.

Junior OH Heather Hargadine took top offensive honors on the day for Truman (1-1), totaling 22 kills in the two matches combined.

She led the way in the team’s four-set win (-19, -19, 22-25, -15) against NSU to start the day, putting down 13 kills and adding 13 digs for a double-double.

The Bulldogs closed out the first two sets with 6-0 and 15-4 runs, respectively, before letting the Sharks (0-1) force a fourth set with a three-point third set win.

However, the ’Dogs jumped out early in the fourth, holding NSU to a -.156 hitting percentage in the frame to close out the victory.

Senior OH Molly Sinclair added ten kills, while freshman DS Abby Moser recorded 21 digs. Senior MB Johanna Ruff led the way at the net with five blocks.

With just a 40 minute break between matches, the Bulldogs then faced MSU, who was playing in its first match of the day.

The Mustangs jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the match with 25-21 and 25-23 set wins, before the Bulldogs opened up a 9-3 early lead in the third set.

 However, MSU clawed back into it, taking the lead at 18-17 and see-sawing to a 21-all tie before grabbing the final four points and handing the ’Dogs their first loss of 2011.

Hargadine again led the offensive attack with nine kills, while freshman OH Allie Brak made an immediate impact by putting down five kills in just one set.

 Freshman S Meghan Zimmerman (15) and senior S Kylie Easlon (12) led the way in assists with Moser again leading all players with 19 digs.

Truman returns to action with two more matches tomorrow, starting with Texas A&M-International (1-1) at 10:00 am before wrapping up the event against Incarnate Word (Texas) (0-2) at 12:30 pm.

Courtesy Truman State University

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