FOUR SET LOSS TO UA-FT. SMITH FOR EMPORIA STATE VOLLEYBALL

September 14, 2019-Emporia State won the first set but could not get another one in a 3-1 loss to Ark.-Ft. Smith on Saturday morning at the Mountain Lion Invitational in Colorado Springs, Colo.
 
The Hornets scored the first three points of the opening set and never trailed.  They would lead 8-1 and 11-3 before a series of side outs over the next 12 points.  A 5-0 run by the Lions would get them back in the set at 19-15. UA-Ft. Smith pulled within 22-19 before back to back kills by Aliyah Bernard and Shelby Ebert gave Emporia State set point.  The Lions saved three set points before Bernard ended the set with a kill for the 25-22 win.
 
Five straight points early in the second gave the Lions a 7-4 lead early.  The Hornets came back to tie the score at 9-9 on a block by Mikayla Simons and Emma Dixon.  UA-Ft. Smith scored five of the next six points to get some separation at 14-10.  Emporia State scored the next three to get within a point but a 6-1 run gave the Lions a 20-14 lead. The Hornets fought off two set points before the Lions won 25-17.
 
The third set belonged to UA-Ft. Smith as they raced out to a 4-1 lead and never trailed the rest of the set.  A 4-0 run pulled Emporia State within 20-14 and forced a Lion timeout before UAFS scored five of the final six points for a 25-15 win.
 
The fourth set was close through the first 22 points with the teams tied at 11-11.  The Lions then went on a 6-1 run to take control on the way to a 25-20 victory and four set match win.
 
Aliyah Bernard led the Hornets with 16 kills on .500 hitting and added two block assists.  Yuchen Du joined her in double figures with 13 kills and added 12 digs.  Shelby Innes had a match high 24 digs while Emma Dixon led both teams with 46 assists.
 
Emporia State will wrap up their weekend in Colorado Springs with a match against Colorado School of Mines at 2:00 p.m. (CT) this afternoon.