November 3, 2023 – Emporia State Volleyball completed the season sweep over Pittsburg State with a 3-1 win over the Gorillas on Friday night from White Auditorium.
In the opening set, both teams traded points early on with the set being knotted at 13-13. Three points later, with the Hornets leading 15-14, the Gorillas put together a 9-4 scoring run as they led 23-19 and were two points away from taking the first set. Emporia State managed to rally and score seven of the next eight points as
Sandora Sasaki powered the run with four kills and a service ace. The Hornets took the first set 26-24 as Sasaki tallied nine first-set kills.
The momentum for Emporia State carried over into set two as they 14-8 lead midway through the set. Pittsburg State rallied to take an 18-17 lead over the Hornets. Emporia State responded with eight of the final ten points and took set two 25-20 and took a 2-0 lead in the match.
Despite a quick 7-2 start from the Gorillas in set three, the Hornets rallied back to trim the Gorillas lead to just one point on multiple occasions before Pittsburg State led 24-20 late in the set looking to force a fourth set. Emporia State nearly mounted a late rally as they scored four straight points to tie the set 24-24 before Pittsburg State scored two straight points to take set three 26-24.
Emporia State took early control of the fourth set and continued to expand their lead throughout the set. Late in the set seniors
Orianna Clements,
Shelby Ebert and
Winny Harris helped cap off the senior night win as Clements recorded a kill and Ebert recorded a block before Harris recorded a kill on the final point to clinch the set 25-16 and the match 3-1.
Sandora Sasaki recorded 25 kills for the Hornets which is her sixth match with 20 or more kills this season, which ties Petal Nelson (1996) for third-most in a season in Emporia State history.
McKenya Sorrells tallied 11 kills on .409 hitting while
Caydence Doebele and
Camilla Ossola both recorded four blocks for the Hornets.
Emporia State will play their final home match of the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 4 against Central Oklahoma. The match is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. from White Auditorium.
