November 8, 2019-After dropping their last five five set matches, Emporia State was able to pull out a 25-20, 20-25, 25-23, 18-25, 15-8 victory over Missouri Southern on Friday night in White Auditorium.
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The Hornets used an 11-2 run to turn a tie score at 7-7 into an 18-9 lead in the opening set. The Lions would close to within 23-20 before Emporia State scored the final two points to take a 1-0 lead.
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The second set was tied at 7-7 when Southern went on a 5-2 run to go up by three. The Lions would take a 24-17 lead and the Hornets fought off three set points before CC Pollard gave Missouri Southern a 25-20 win with a kill.
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Emporia State carried the momentum of the end of the second set into the beginning of the third as they took an early 6-2 lead. The Lions would come back to take a 15-13 lead only to see the Hornets score four straight to take a 17-15 lead. A
Yuchen Du kill would give the Hornets a 25-23 win.
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The fourth set was all Missouri Southern as they jumped out to a 7-1 lead to start the set and led 11-2. Emporia State would close to within 21-17 before the Lions ended the set on a 4-1 run to force a fifth set.
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The Hornets led from the outset in the fifth, getting two kills from Valeri Golder and one from
Yuchen Du to take a 3-1 lead. Two more kills from Du and a service ace by
Rylie Fornelli gave Emporia State a 6-2 lead and they would lead 8-5 at the side switch. The Lions would get within 9-7 before the Hornets closed the set and the match on a 6-1 run.
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Yuchen Du had a match high 18 kills with five blocks. She was joined in double figure kills by
Valerie Golder with 13,
Jessica Hayes with 11 and
Shelby Ebert with ten. Ebert added 16 digs for a double-double.
Emma Dixon had a match high 33 assists and 13 digs for a double-double as well.
Rylie Fornelli had a match high 23 digs for Emporia State.
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The Hornets will play their final home match of the season on Saturday when they play host to Pittsburg State. First serve is set for 3:00 p.m. in White Auditorium.
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