Emporia State volleyball takes first set before falling 3-1 at Central Missouri

September 22, 2023-Emporia State volleyball went into Warrensburg and took the first set from Central Missouri before falling 3-1 to the Jennies. Sandora Sasaki had a career high 20 kills in the four set match.
 
The opening set was tied at 7-7 when the Hornets went on a 4-1 run to take the lead for good.  Setter Brailee Bogle gave Emporia State a 23-20 lead with a solo block to force a timeout by the Jennies. UCM scored three of the next four points as ESU called timeout leading 24-23. Maureen Mathews delivered a kill on set point to give Emporia State the 25-23 win.
 
The second set was tight through the first 25 points with ten ties and five lead changes. Zuzanna Buchnajzer pulled the Hornets within 12-11.  A 5-0 run gave the Jennies an 18-12 lead.  Emporia State fought off four straight set points with a McKenya Sorrells kill forcing UCM into a timeout at 24-18 before they were able to even the match with a 25-18 win. After the two teams combined to hit .309 in the opening set, they were held to a combined .113 in the second set.
 
Neither team took more than a three point lead through the first 27 points of the third set. Emporia State led 8-5 following a pair of Central Missouri attack errors.  UCM came back with a 3-0 run to take a 9-8 lead before ESU got a kill from Sorrells and another error from the Jennies to retake the lead at 10-9.  The Hornets called timeout trailing 16-12 and Sasaki got a kill out of the timeout for the only point in a 5-1 UCM run. A Sasaki kill pulled ESU within 19-16 but the Jennies closed the set with six straight points for a 25-16 win and 2-1 advantage in the match.
 
Central Missouri scored the first three points of the fourth set and never trailed as they closed the match with a 25-15 win.
 
Sandora Sasaki had a career high 20 kills on .245 hitting with nine digs and an ace. It is the most kills in a four set match in the MIAA this year and ranks fourth in all matches in the Association this season. She was the only Hornet in double figures as Emporia State hit just .158 as a team.  Brailee Bogle had 34 assists in the four sets while Anakaren Chavez and Tasiah Nunnery each reached double figures in digs with 13 and ten respectively.
 
Emporia State is back in action on Saturday when they travel to Missouri Southern. First serve from Joplin, Mo. is set for 7:00 p.m.
 
NOTES
SAndora Sasaki's 20 kills were the most by a Hornet since Shelby Ebert had 21 in a five set win over Black Hills State on September 10, 2021. It is the most kills in a four set match by a Hornet since Yuchen Du had 23 in a 3-1 win over Adams State on September 8, 2017.