HORNETS OUT-HIT TIGERS IN 3-1 LOSS TO FORT HAYS STATE

October 1, 2019-Emporia State had more kills, blocks, digs, and aces for the night but it did not translate into a match win as the Hornets fell 3-1 to Fort Hays State on Tuesday night in White Auditorium.
 
The opening set was tied at 11-11 when the Tigers went on an 8-2 run to take a 19-13 lead.  Emporia State then went on a 5-0 run to tie the set at 19-19.  FHSU then finished the set on a 6-3 run to win 25-22.
 
The Hornets scored the first point and never trailed on the way to a 25-17 win in the second set. An 8-1 run with three kills from Mikayla Simons and two from Yuchen Du gave Emporia State their biggest lead at 17-9.  The Tigers pulled to within 19-15 before the Hornets ended the set on a 6-2 run to even the match at 1-1.
 
Emporia State picked up where they left off in the third set and held a 17-13 lead after a Fort Hays State attack error.  The Tigers answered with a 6-2 run to tie the set at 19-19.  The Hornets went up 23-20 on a block by Valerie Golder and Madelyn Michaelis.  Fort Hays State then scored four straight points to force set point at 24-23.  Aliyah Bernard put away a kill to keep Emporia State in the set but kills from Morgan Christiansen and Kylie Brown gave the Tigers a 26-24 set win.
 
The Hornets jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the fourth set and held a 13-7 lead after 20 points.  Fort Hays State then reeled off a 13-1 run aided by three Emporia State attack errors, a Hornet service error and a Tiger ace to take a 20-14 lead.  Shelby Ebert had three kills in a 6-2 run to pull the Hornets within 22-20.  After FHSU broke the run to go up 23-20 Michaelis had a kill and the the Tigers had an attack error to pull Emporia State within a point a 23-22.  Back to back kills by Isabelle Reynolds and Delaney Humm gave Fort Hays State a 25-22 set win and 3-1 victory in the match.
 
Shelby Ebert had 13 kills on .355 hitting to lead three Hornets in double figure kills.  Yuchen Du had 11 kills, 26 assists and eight digs while Jessica Hayes finished with 12 kills.  Rylie Fornelli had 27 digs and was joined in double figures by Ebert with 15 digs and Emma Dixon with 12 digs and 27 assists.
 
After three straight home matches the Hornets will head back on the road for four straight beginning Friday at Central Oklahoma.  First serve against the Bronchos is set for 6:00 p.m. in Edmond, Okla.