Box Score October 8, 2016 - The Emporia State volleyball team fell in three straight sets 22-25, 16-25, 12-25 on Saturday afternoon to #3 Nebraska-Kearney. The Hornets are now 9-11 on the season, 2-6 in the MIAA.
The Hornets had an early 3-1 lead in the first set thanks to back-to-back kills from Josie Williams. Emporia State did not fall behind until a 4-1 run by Nebraska-Kearney to put the Lopers up 8-7. There were eight tied scores until the Lopers took a 7-4 run, forcing a Hornet timeout and taking a 22-19 lead. Williams had a kill out of the timeout to close the gap 22-20. Two straight points from Nebraska-Kearney gave them their first set point at 24-20, Emporia State taking their second timeout. The Lopers were forced to take a timeout of their own when the Hornets had back-to-back kills from Jamie Hauptman and Williams to close the gap 24-22. Annie Wolfe ended the set on a kill, Nebraska-Kearney with a 25-22 win.
In the second set, the Lopers took an early 6-2 jump before the Hornets took a timeout. A 6-1 run by Emporia State tied the game at eight a piece after another Williams kill. The Hornets took the lead 10-9 after back-to-back kills from Tatum Graves and Taylor Otting. The Lopers went on a 9-2 run to lead 18-12 and force an Emporia State timeout. The Hornets only scored four more points in the second set. The Lopers widened the match lead to 2-0 after taking a 25-16 set two win.
Nebraska-Kearney again got out to a 6-2 lead in set three when Emporia State answered with three straight points to close the gap 6-5. The Hornets only trailed by two (9-7) when the Lopers went on 5-0 nothing run to take a 14-7 lead. Nebraska-Kearney claimed the match after winning the third set 25-12.
Williams led the Hornets with ten kills followed by Otting with eight kills. Danika Burton had a solo block and five block assists, taking part in six of the seven team blocks. Graves had a solo block and three block assists. Allie Maloney had 14 digs against the Lopers. Kimberly Bell had 17 assists and nine digs and Emma Dixon had 14 assists.
Emporia State will travel to St. Joseph, Mo. on Friday, Oct. 14 to face Missouri Western at 7:00 p.m.
