EMPORIA STATE VOLLEYBALL DEFEATS LINDENWOOD IN FIVE SETS

November 7, 2015 - Emporia State defeated Lindenwood Saturday afternoon in five sets, 23-25, 25-16, 19-25, 25-22, 15-9, on senior day. The Hornets held the Lions to just .097 hitting on the day. Throughout the five sets there were 32 tied scores and 13 lead changes.

TIGHT FIRST

The first set had 11 tied scores and seven lead changes. The Hornets jumped out to an early 3-0 lead of the Lions, only for the Lions to answer with three straight points of their own to tie it 3-3. After the tie at 3-3, there wouldn't be more than a one point lead until a Lindenwood advantage 12-10 on a Hornet attack error. The game was then tied 16-16 on a kill from Josie Williams. The last tie would come at 23-23 from a Emma Benton service ace. The Lions would then finish the set 25-23.

HORNETS TAKE SECOND

The Lions had an early start in the second, leading 1-6. The Hornets fought back to tie the set 12-12 on a Julia Joseph kill. Emporia State didn't look back, leading the rest of the set to win 25-16. The Hornets held Lindenwood to 11 kills with 11 errors, leading to a .000 hitting percentage.

BACK TO LINDENWOOD

The third set had one of its two ties at 4-4 from another Emma Benton service ace. The Lions went on a 16-9 run to have a large advantage at 15-20 in the third set. Emporia State closed in on the Lions at 19-24 on a Lindenwood attack error. The Hornets lost the set 25-19.

HORNETS FORCE A FIFTH

The fourth set had 15 tied scores and three lead changes. Neither team led by more than one point until a 16-14 Hornet advantage from a Josie Williams kill. The final one point lead was at a 23-22 Hornet lead, after a Lindenwood kill. Emporia State then scored two of the final three points to end 25-22 on an Emma Benton kill.

FIFTH AND FINAL

The Hornets jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, only for the Lions to answer with two points of their own and tie it 2-2. The final tie would come at 4-4 from a Hornet set error. Emporia State then took the lead and never looked back, winning the final set and match 15-9. The Hornets had a .409 hitting percentage in the final set, with ten kills compared to Lindenwood's five.

THE NUMBERS

Emma Benton led the Hornets with a double-double, 15 kills on .324 hitting with 15 digs followed by Shayla Cotman with nine kills on .444 hitting. Josie Williams also added nine kills, Danika Burton another eight kills. Danika Burton had ten block assists and one solo block for the Hornets. Josie Williams and Emma Benton each had five block assists of their own, Shayla Cotman adding another four block assists. Sydney Hartman had a double-double on her senior night with 24 assists and 15 digs. Kelly Holden had a team high 30 digs.

SENIOR DAY

The Emporia State seniors were recognized before the match started. Sydney Hartman, Clair Simmons, and Torrie Rupe finished their last home game as Hornets.

UP NEXT