HORNETS SPLIT PAIR OF FOUR SET MATCHES ON SATURDAY IN EDMOND

Match One

In the first set of the day, Emporia State and St. Mary's traded blows as neither team could pull away from the other. Before the end of the set, the largest lead was three points for the Rattlers. The Hornets were able to take a 20-19 lead late in the set before St. Mary's scored five of the next six points to take the first set over Emporia State 25-21.

The second set began similarly to the first, with the two teams trading points before the Hornets grabbed hold of the set after the Rattlers tied the set at ten points apiece. Emporia State scored six of the next seven points highlighted by a trio of kills from Orianna Clements. The Hornets were able to use the momentum to close out the second set with a 25-17 victory to tie the match 1-1. 

Emporia State was unable to keep the momentum entering the third set. After trading points and being tied 6-6, St. Mary's took control and would go on to win the set 25-11. 

The Hornets fell down 18-11 in the fourth set and made one push with four straight points to close the Rattler advantage to three points forcing a timeout from St. Mary's. Emporia State was unable to close the gap any further as St. Mary's won the fourth set 25-18 to take the match 3-1 over the Hornets. 

Orianna Clements led the Hornets with 11 kills. Riley Bernskoetter and Ainslee Stepp both recorded 12 assists and Megan Stretton and Shelby Ebert both tallied double-digit assists with 18 and 11 respectively.

Match Two

Emporia State fell behind 8-3 in the first set before four different Hornets recorded a kill and Megan Stretton recorded back to back aces to give the Hornets a 9-8 advantage over the Savage Storm. After much of the set carried on with the two teams trading points, Southeastern Oklahoma eventually took the first set 25-23.

The second set took a similar tone to the first as the two teams struggled to find separation from one another. Late in the set, Southeastern Oklahoma had two chances to take the set and claim a 2-0 lead in the match but Emporia State stifled both opportunities and would take the set 28-26 to even the match. 

In the third set, Emporia State led 15-14 as the two teams continued to trade points. The Hornets then scored nine of the next ten points to take a 24-15 lead and eventually won the set 25-18 to take a 2-1 lead in the match. 

The Hornets built an early lead in the fourth set with a 9-3 and 14-6 advantages over the Savage Storm. Southeastern Oklahoma answered the Hornets and came back to take a 23-21 lead late in the set. Similar to the second set, Emporia State stifled three set point chances for the Savage Storm and the Hornets would eventually take the set 29-27 to take the four set victory over Southeastern Oklahoma. 

Leah Mach led Emporia State with 18 kills on a .238 hitting percentage. She also reached double-digit digs with 13 in the match. Orianna Clements recorded 12 on a .375 hitting percentage. Riley Bernskoetter and Ainslee Stepp both reached 20 assists with 25 and 20 respectively. Megan Stretton led all players with 28 digs in the match. 

Emporia State will return home next weekend to open MIAA action as they play host to Nebraska-Kearney on Friday, September 9. The match will is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. from White Auditorium.