October 22, 2016 - The Emporia State volleyball team fell in five sets to Pittsburg State Saturday night. The Hornets are now 11-14 on the season and 3-9 in the MIAA.
QUICK JUMP
Neither team had more than a two point lead in the first 27 points of the first set before Emporia State went on a 9-0 run to take a 22-14 lead over Pittsburg. The Hornet went on to win set one 25-15, holding the Gorillas to a -.091 hitting percentage.
TIGHT SECOND
Pittsburg State jumped out to an early 8-3 lead in the second set before Emporia State took a timeout. The Gorillas maintained their lead the rest of the set en route to a 25-21 win over the Hornets.
GORILLAS GO AHEAD
With the match tied at a set a piece, Pittsburg State took a 6-0 lead in the third set before Emporia State would score their first point. A timeout would not be called until an 11-4 Gorilla lead. It wasn't until a 10-4 run by the Hornets that closed the gap 23-19 at a Gorilla advantage. A kill from Lauren Regier gave Pittsburg State their first set point at 24-19. Three straight Gorilla errors forced a Pittsburg State timeout, Hornets trailing 24-22. Julia Joseph converted out of the timeout to make the game 24-23. A Taylor Unke kill gave the third set to the Gorillas. Emporia State had a .235 hitting percentage in the third set compared to Pittsburg State's .209 hitting percentage.
BACK IN IT
The Hornets began the fourth set on a 5-0 run before the Gorillas took their first timeout. Pittsburg State closed the gap 9-8 before Emporia State went on a 10-0 run to take a 19-8 lead. A 7-3 run by the Gorillas forced the Hornets to take a timeout leading 22-15. After Pittsburg State scored out of the timeout, Emporia State had three straight points to win 25-16 and force a fifth set.
FALLING SHORT
Emporia State scored only four points in the fifth set, two coming from Joseph kills. Pittsburg State had 13 kills on a .522 hitting percentage in the fifth set.
BY THE NUMBERS
Josie Williams had a double-double with 17 kills and 11 digs on a .234 hitting percentage. Taylor Otting followed with nine kills while Joseph added seven kills on a .263 hitting percentage. Kimberly Bell led with 19 assists followed by Emma Dixon with 13 assists. Allie Maloney had 14 digs, Kelly Holden adding 11 digs. Danika Burton led all players with four blocks joined by Shayla Cotman with three blocks. Emporia State had 8.5 team blocks compared to Pittsburg State's 3 blocks. The Hornets had a .173 hitting percentage, the Gorillas with a .135 hitting percentage.
UP NEXT
The Hornets will travel to Kansas City, Mo. to face Rockhurst University on Tuesday, Oct. 25. First serve will be at 6:00 p.m.
