October 28, 2023 – Emporia State Volleyball fell in four sets against Northwest Missouri on Saturday afternoon from Bearcat Arena in Maryville, Mo.
Northwest Missouri controlled the majority of the first set which started with the Bearcats scoring the first four points. Emporia State trimmed the deficit to one point on multiple occasions, including late in the set as the Hornets trailed the Bearcats 19-18. Northwest Missouri held off the Hornets to take the first set 25-21.
In a similar fashion to set one, the Bearcats again led for the entirety of the second set. Emporia State rallied for a second time in the match to trim the Northwest Missouri advantage to 19-18 before the Bearcats scored six of the final seven points to take the set 25-19 to claim a 2-0 lead in the match.
Emporia State flipped the script in set three as they took their first lead of the match with the first two points of the set. Despite the Bearcats tying the match 2-2 and trailing 4-3 early in the set, the Hornets pulled away on route to a 25-13 win in the third frame.
The Hornets outhit the Bearcats .360 to .121 as Emporia State committed just one error.
Set four began with Emporia State maintaining their momentum from set three as they built an early 8-3 lead over the Bearcats. The Hornets were unable to hold off a Northwest Missouri rally that saw the Bearcats put together an 11-4 scoring and take a 14-12 lead midway through the set. Emporia State struggled to regain their footing in the set as the Bearcats pulled away to take the fourth set 25-21 as the Hornets fell 3-1.
Sandora Sasaki posted a match-high 17 kills for the Hornets, her 24
th consecutive match with double-digit kills.
Lillian Zeigler recorded seven kills while
Orianna Clements tallied five of her own.
Emporia State will return to action on Friday, November 3 from White Auditorium as the Hornets begin their final homestand. The Hornets are scheduled to take on Pittsburg State at 6:00 p.m.
