Women's Volleyball | 9/1/2023 12:37:00 PM
Box Score September 1, 2023 – Emporia State Volleyball opened the
Ken Murczek era with a 3-1 win over Sioux Falls in the opening game of the Kansas City Classic.
Sioux Falls opened the match with the first three points before the Hornets climbed back to tie the first set 7-7. Following the Emporia State scoring run, the Cougars responded in kind with a 6-1 run of their own to lead 13-8 midway through the opening set. Emporia State was unable to rally back as Sioux Falls took the first set 25-17.
In the second set, the Hornets built their largest lead of the set as they took a 15-7 advantage over the Cougars. Sioux Falls put together a 9-2 run as they trimmed the Emporia State lead to 17-16. The Hornets and Cougars continued to go back and forth as Sioux Falls eventually gained a 23-22 lead late in the set. Emporia State rallied for three consecutive points as
Sandora Sasaki recorded two straight kills before a service ace from
Anakaren Chavez gave the Hornets a 25-23 win in set number two.
The back-and-forth battle continued early in set three as the Hornets held a slim 10-9 advantage over the Cougars. Emporia State did not allow the Cougars to take the lead in third, as they closed the set on a 15-4 scoring run as they took the third set 25-13.
In the fourth, Emporia State and Sioux Falls again continued their battle of trading points for much of the set. The Hornets held a late 23-19 lead before the Cougars scored three of the next four as they attempted to keep the match alive. However, an attack error from the Cougars gave the Hornets a 25-22 win in set four and the 3-1 win in the first match of the
Ken Murczek era.
Sandora Sasaki led Emporia State with 13 kills while hitting .242 for the match. A trio of Hornets,
Winny Harris,
Orianna Clements and
Zuzanna Buchnajzer, each recorded six kills of their own with Harris posting a team-high .385 hitting percentage.
Brailee Bogle and
Ainslee Stepp each recorded double-digit assists with 20 and 12 assists respectively.
Emporia State will return to action at 6:00 p.m. as they take on William Jewell to cap off day one of the Kansas City Classic.
