October 18, 2019-Emporia State battled 14
th ranked Northwest Missouri to a fifth set before falling 3-2 on Friday night in White Auditorium. It is the fifth match the Hornets have lost in five sets this season.
Emporia State jumped out to a 5-2 lead to start the match only to see Northwest go on an 8-3 run to take a 10-8 lead. The Bearcats would stretch their lead to four points on four occasions before having set point at 24-22. The Hornets fought off three set points before scoring the final three points of the set to take a 27-25 victory.
The Hornets got off to a 3-1 start in the second set and never trailed on the way toa 25-19 victory for a 2-0 lead.
Yuchen Du had six kills and
Jessica Hayes four during the set for Emporia State.
The Bearcats got off to the good start in the third set, leading 8-3 early before stretching it to 15-8. The Hornet were able to fight off one set point before falling 25-20.
Emporia State led 3-1 to start the fourth set, but Northwest answered with a 6-1 run of their own to take the lead for good. The Hornets were within three points when a 6-1 run gave the Bearcats a 23-15 lead on the way to a 25-17 victory that forced a fifth set.
In the fifth set Northwest Missouri scored the first two points and led 8-4 at the turn. Emporia State was able survive two match points before eventually falling 15-10.
Yuchen Du had 17 kills with 13 digs and three aces to lead three Hornets in double figures.
Jessica Hayes had 14 kills and a block assist while
Aliyah Bernard had ten kills on .292 hitting with two block assists.
Emma Dixon had 45 assists while
Rylie Fornelli had a team high 19 digs.
Emporia State is back in action on Saturday night when they play host to #9 Central Missouri. First serve in White Auditorium is set for 7:00 p.m.
