SPRINGFIELD, Mo.- The 10th ranked Drury Panthers won their ninth straight game with a 3-0 win (25-15, 25-22, 25-15) over Missouri Southern State on Tuesday at the O'Reilly Family Event Center.
 
Drury improved to 13-2 while the Lions fell to 2-13.
 
Bentley Mara got six of her 10 kills in the first set as the Panthers took the opening frame 25-15. Abby Welther then responded with eight kills in the second set and the sophomore from Pleasant Hill, Missouri ended the match with a team-leading 12. Drury pulled away to win the third set by 10 as Mara served three consecutive aces during a decisive run and the senior finished the night with six service aces.
 
"I thought Abby Welther had a really great night hitting from the outside," said Drury head coach Jenifer Bahner. "I was excited to see her take advantage of the opportunity to play a lot tonight."
 
Drury played each of their healthy players on Tuesday. Landyn Kozlowski missed the contest with an injury.
 
"Our starters have set the tone with their energy and our kids on the bench now understand what's expected of them when it's their time to step on the court and play," said Bahner. "Reba Thomsen was a great example of bringing positive energy to the court tonight. She provided lots of communication, and she's firey which is what we like to see from the setting position because you need somebody that can run the team and be confident." 
 
Drury returns to conference play on Friday when they travel to McKendree for a 7 p.m. match in Lebanon, Illinois.
 
 
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