October 27, 2022 - Emporia State dropped their final home match of the season against Pittsburg State in four sets.
The first set began with both teams trading scoring runs early on. With the score tied 12-12 halfway through the set, Pittsburg State rallied to score ten consecutive points to take a 22-12 lead over the Hornets. Emporia State stifled the scoring run before the Gorillas eventually took the first set 25-15 to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
The Gorillas were able to carry their momentum into the second set as they scored the first point of the set and never relinquished the lead for the remainder of the set. Emporia State scored three straight points to trim the Gorilla lead to 9-7. Pittsburg State would expand the lead as they went on to take the second set 25-16.
Both teams traded points early on in the third set before Pittsburg State opened a 12-7 lead over the Hornets halfway through the set. Emporia State rallied to claim the lead 13-12 with a pair of kills from
Zuzanna Buchnajzer and multiple errors from the Gorillas attack. After the Gorillas reclaimed the lead 16-15, the Hornets scored four straight to take a three point lead over Pittsburg State that they refused to give for the remainder of the set as the Hornets made the match 2-1 with a 25-21 win in the third set.
In the fourth set, Emporia State held an early 6-4 lead before the Gorillas scored seven of eight points to take an 11-7 lead. The Hornets were unable to gain any ground against the Gorillas as Pittsburg State opened a 20-11 lead. Emporia State put together their own 7-1 scoring run to cut the Gorillas' advantage to 21-18 before Pittsburg State closed out the set 25-20 to take the match 3-1.
Zuzanna Buchnajzer led the Hornets with 12 kills for the second consecutive match while hitting .303 on the night.
Riley Bernskoetter tallied 16 assists to lead the Hornets. On the defensive side,
Winny Harris had a solo block and five total in the match while
Caydence Doebele and Buchnajzer each tallied three of their own.
Shelby Ebert recorded a team-high 15 digs in the match.
Emporia State will conclude the regular season with a pair of matches against Missouri Western and Central Missouri. The match against the Griffons on Friday, November 4 is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. in St. Joseph, Missouri.
