October 1, 2022- Emporia State fell in five sets to Missouri Southern in a back and forth battle on Saturday afternoon.
The first set started with the Hornets leading 4-3 over the Lions early on before Missouri Southern took control to eventually open a sizable advantage over Emporia State. With the Hornets trailing 11-8 halfway through the set, Missouri Southern scored eight of the next nine points to open a 19-9 lead over Emporia State as they took the first set 25-17.
Early in the second set, Missouri Southern retained their momentum as they led to begin the set and eventually led 15-9 for their largest lead of the set. Emporia State was able to fight back and eventually tie the set 20-20. The Hornets allowed one point from the Lions before rattling off five straight points to close out the second set 25-21.
After dropping the first three points of the third set, Emporia State flipped the script from the first two sets as the Hornets jumped in front for most of the set. The largest lead for Emporia State came late in the set with the Hornets up 20-15 on the Lions. Missouri Southern would then score five consecutive points to tie the set. After both teams traded points until the Hornets and Lions were tied at 24, a Lion attack error followed by an
Ainslee Stepp service ace clinched the set 26-24 for Emporia State.
In the fourth set, with the Hornets leading 2-1, an
Orianna Clements kill was assisted by
Riley Bernskoetter who recorded her 1,000th career assist for the Hornets on the play. Emporia State who hold an early lead over Missouri Southern before the Lions were able to gain control over the fourth set on their way to a 25-16 win to force a fifth and final set.
Missouri Southern applied the pressure to the Hornets after scoring four of the first five points. Emporia State rallied back and eventually tied the set 10-10. Both teams again traded points late in the set with the Hornets holding off five match points from the Lions. The Hornets were unable to grab the lead as the Lions took the fifth set 21-19 and the match 3-2 over Emporia State.
Leah Mach and
Megan Stretton each recorded 17 kills to lead the way for Emporia State. Mach led all hitters with a .385 hitting percentage.
Riley Bernskoetter surpassed 1,000 career assists with 29 in the match while
Ainslee Stepp added 28 of her own. In defense,
Shelby Ebert tallied 30 digs to lead the Hornets in defense while
McKenya Sorrells recorded four blocks at the net.
Emporia State will return home for a pair of MIAA matches against Central Missouri and Missouri Western. The match against Central Missouri is scheduled for Friday, October 7 and is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m.
