Emporia State Volleyball falters at Missouri Western

October 27, 2023-Sandora Sasaki recorded her 23^rd straight double figure kill match but it was not enough for Emporia State in a 3-1 loss at Missouri Western on Friday night in St. Joseph, Mo.
 
Neither team took more than a three point lead in the first set, the last one coming at 14-11 Griffons. The Hornets would score three of the next four points to forge a 15-15 tie. From that point on there would be ties at 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24. Sasaki's sixth kill of the set gave Emporia State a set point at 24-23, but Western would score three straight to take a 26-24 win.
 
The Griffons jumped out to a 5-1 lead to start the second set but the Hornets would go on a 5-1 run of their own to tie it a 6-6.  Western would lead 15-9 when went on a 7-0 run to take their first lead of the second set.  Sasaki had four kills during the run.  The Griffons regrouped and would lead 23-20 only to see the Hornets score five consecutive points to take a 25-23 win and even the match at 1-1.  
 
Set three was tied at 6-6 when MWSU reeled off eight straight points to take the lead for good at 14-6. ESU scored the next three points to pull within 14-9 and trailed 17-12 before the Griffons finished the set on an 8-2 run to take the 25-14 win and a 2-1 lead in the match.
 
Western scored the first two points of the fourth set and never trailed on the way to a 25-8 match clinching win the fourth set.
 
Sasaki finished with 18 kills but was limited to just .092 hitting as Emporia State hit just .104 as a team while Missouri Western racked up 11 blocks. Anakaren Chavez recorded 20 digs, her second 20 dig match in her last three outings. She was joined in double figure digs by Tasiah Nunnery with 14 while Brailee Bogle and Sasaki each had 11 digs. Bogle finished with 30 assists.
 
Emporia State is back in action on Saturday afternoon at Northwest Missouri.  First serve from Maryville, Mo. is set for 3:00 p.m.