Box Score October 29, 2016 - The Emporia State volleyball team upset #16 Northwest Missouri at home on Saturday night in a five set clincher to improve to 12-15 on the season, 4-9 in the MIAA. This last time the Hornets upset a ranked team was on Oct. 24, 2014 at Warrensburg, Mo. against #19 Central Missouri, also in five sets.
After tying the first set 3-3 on a Danika Burton kill, the Bearcats went on a 3-0 run to take a 6-3 lead. The Hornets would remain with three points before a 9-3 Northwest Missouri run to take a 18-10 lead. The Bearcats maintained the lead for the remainder of the first set on the way to a 25-18 win. Northwest Missouri had a .220 hitting percentage in the first set.
In set two, Emporia State got out to an early 7-2 lead before Northwest Missouri called a timeout. The Hornets kept the lead until the Bearcats went on a 10-1 run to take a 17-15 lead. Emporia State forced a Northwest Missouri timeout when they went on a 3-0 run to take a 18-17 lead. After the timeout, the Hornets extended the lead 19-17 when Burton and Tatum Graves blocked Miranda Foster. Back-to-back points from the Bearcats tied the game 19 all. Emporia State followed with a 3-0 run to take a 22-19 lead off a Burton kill. The Hornets scored three of the final five points to take the set 25-21. Emporia State held Northwest Missouri to a -.024 hitting percentage in the second set.
Northwest Missouri jumped out to an early 8-2 lead in the third set after Emporia State scored the first two points. The Bearcats kept the lead the rest of the set to win 25-21 and go up two sets to none over the Hornets.
In set four, Emporia State scored the first four points, two coming from Josie Williams kills. Northwest Missouri went on a 4-1 run to close the gap 5-4. A 5-0 run by the Hornets gave them a 10-4 lead after a solo block by Burton. Emporia State maintained the lead en route to a 25-14 set win, forcing a fifth and final deciding set. The Hornets had a .222 hitting percentage in the fourth set compared to the Bearcats' .000 hitting percentage.
Northwest Missouri jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead in the fifth set when Emporia State answered with a 4-0 run to trail 5-4. The Bearcats scored two straight points to keep the lead at 7-4 when the Hornets scored two points of their own to close the gap 7-6 after an Allie Maloney service ace. Another point by Northwest Missouri gave them a 8-6 lead before Emporia State went on a 3-0 run to take their first lead of the set, 9-8 on a kill from Williams. Another two straight points from the Bearcats gave them a 10-9 lead. Another 3-0 run gave the Hornets a 12-10 lead when the Bearcats tied the game again at 12-12 from back-to-back points. Back-to-back kills from Taylor Otting gave Emporia State their first set point at 14-12. A bad set from Emma Dixon forced a Hornet timeout, leading 14-13. Otting had her third kill of the set to win the set, 15-13, and the match. The Hornets had a .286 hitting percentage in set five.
Williams and Jamie Hauptman led the Hornets with 12 kills a piece, Williams earning a double-double with 14 digs. Hauptman had a .370 hitting percentage with just two errors. Otting and Graves each added another 11 kills. Shayla Cotman had six kills on the night. Kimberly Bell led with 25 assists while Dixon had a double-double and a season high 16 digs and 21 assists. Maloney led all players with 20 digs while Kelly Holden had 12 digs. Burton had five blocks against the Bearcats. Emporia State had seven team blocks and a .284 hitting percentage.
Emporia State will face Missouri Western on Sunday, Oct. 30 at 2:00 p.m. in White Auditorium.
