DENVER - Florida Southern returned to the win column here Saturday afternoon as the Moccasins posted a three-set sweep over fifth-ranked Central Missouri (25-14, 25-23, 25-11) on the second day of the Colorado Premier Challenge at the Auraria Event Center on the Metro State University campus.

The win improved the Mocs to 4-2 overall and snapped a six-match losing skid against ranked teams dating to last season's four set win over ninth-ranked West Texas A&M in the final of the Bronze Division bracket at the Colorado Premier Challenge. UCM fall to 3-4 overall and 0-3 in the Premier Challenge.

In the victory over the Jennies, the Mocs defense was dominant as they recorded 78 digs and a season-high 12 blocks in the three-set victory that lasted a little less than 75 minutes.

Five Moccasins recorded 10 or more digs, including junior right side hitter Kendall Marotti (LaBelle, Fla.) picking up a match-high 19 digs, while senior libero Catherine Brusie (North Branch, Mich.) added 17 digs. On the blocking front, sophomore middle blocker Rachel Mostert (Clearwater, Fla.) had a career-high seven blocks, while junior middle blocker Kayshia Brady (Welaka, Fla.) had three solo blocks in the win.

Offensively, the Mocs were paced by a balanced attack as five players had between six and eight kills, including sophomore outside hitter Brindl Langley (Camas, Wash.) leading the way with eight kills and added 15 digs. Brady, Marotti and senior outside hitter Kate Stromberg (Lexington, Ky.) each had seven kills and Mostert added six kills to go with her seven blocks.

The first set was dominated by the Mocs as they hit .324 for the set and held the Jennies of the MIAA to an .091 hitting percentage. FSC jumped out to a 2-0 lead, before UCM used a 6-1 run to take a 6-3 lead. The Mocs, though, would answer with a 6-3 run to tie the set at 9-all. After a kill by Kourtney Thompson gave UCM a 10-9 lead, the Mocs answered with a 10-2 run capped by a back-to-back kills from Mostert to take a 19-11 lead. The Jennies would score two of the next three points to pull within 20-13, but the Mocs would close the set scoring four of the final five points to seal its 25-14 victory.

In the second set, UCM jumped out to a 3-0 lead and led 4-1 when the Mocs used an 11-6 run to take a 12-10 lead. The Jennies, though, fought back as they answered with an 8-3 run to take an 18-15 lead following back-to-back errors by the Mocs. FSC would respond with a 5-2 run to tie the set at 20-all. After UCM scored two straight points to take a 22-20 edge, the Mocs would score two straight points to retie the set at 22. After both teams traded points thanks to errors, the Mocs closed the set by scoring the final two points, including Mostert slamming home a kill to seal the 25-23 win and take a 2-0 lead in the match.

Much like the first set, the third set belonged to the Mocs as they hit .478 as they had 11 kills, no attack errors in 23 attack attempts and held UCM to a -.027 hitting percentage. After the two teams traded points to open the set, the Mocs used a 7-3 run to take an 8-4 lead. After a kill from Shelby Winkelmann brought UCM within 8-5, the Mocs used a 12-5 run to take a 20-10 lead. After a service error by Langley dropped the Mocs lead to 20-11, FSC would close the set and seal the win by scoring the final four points, including redshirt senior setter Ali Skayhan (Beaverton, Ore.) capping the win with a kill.

For the third straight match, Skayhan recorded a double-double as she had 28 assists and 14 digs and added three blocks.

FSC finished hitting .257 in the match as they recorded 38 kills and had just nine attack errors and five service errors, while UCM had 30 kills, 21 attack errors and hit .065.

UCM was paced by 14 kills and eight digs from Winkelmann, while Haley Thompson had five kills in the loss. Defensively, the Jennies were paced by 15 digs apiece from Anne Reilly and Becca Blaise.

The Mocs will conclude play in the 2014 Colorado Premier Challenge later Saturday evening as they face Regis in a 9:30 p.m. EDT match at Regis. The Rangers, who are 1-1 in the event and 4-2 overall on the year, faced No. 10 Southwest Minnesota State at 4:30 p.m. EDT, before meeting the Mocs.

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