October 18, 2024 – Emporia State traded sets on Friday night against Central Missouri, eventually resulting in a five-set win over the Jennies.
The first set was back and forth throughout between the Hornets and Jennies. Central Missouri led early, holding a 6-3 advantage before a 4-1 scoring run by Emporia State brought the score level at 7-7. The Jennies regained their lead and maintained the slight edge late into the set, leading the Hornets 19-16. After four straight points by Emporia State to take the 20-19 lead, the two teams traded points until the score was 25-25. A kill from
Weronika Wrzesinska followed by an attack error eventually resulted in the Hornets taking set one 27-25.
Set two was controlled early by Central Missouri, jumping out to an early 5-1 lead over the Hornets. Emporia State once again fought back, as they took a late 20-19 lead which forced a timeout from the Jennies. After trading points out of the timeout, Central Missouri scored five of the final six, taking set two 25-22.
Emporia State and Central Missouri continued their closely fought battle into set three, as neither team led by more than three points in the frame. The Jennies held a late 23-22 lead which forced a timeout from the Hornets. Out of the break, the Hornets got back-to-back kills from
Camilla Ossola followed by a
Rayishon Jackman service ace to clinch the set 25-23.
The Hornets struggled in set four, hitting just .135 while the Jennies hit.484. Central Missouri expanded their lead throughout the set, eventually taking set four 25-13 to force a decisive fifth frame.
Emporia State gained control early in the fifth, building a 7-4 lead. The Hornets' advantage was trimmed to 8-7 before a 6-1 scoring run bolstered the lead to 14-8 as Emporia State had match point. The Jennies mounted a late rally, scoring five straight points before the Hornets finally took the set 15-13 on a kill from
Camilla Ossola.
The Hornets hit .192 in the match and were led in attack by
Weronika Wrzesinska who had 20 kills as she reaches 20 for the third time in the last six matches.
Camilla Ossola led three more Hornets in double-figures with 16 kills of her own.
Brailee Bogle and
Sydney Fiatte combined for 53 assists.
Emporia State advances to 13-5 on the season and 5-3 in the MIAA. The Hornets will be back in action on Saturday, October 19 as they take on Missouri Southern. First serve between the Hornets and Lions is set for 3:00 p.m. in Joplin, Mo.
Notes:
Emporia State captured their first win over Central Missouri since October 24, 2014, snapping a streak of 15 consecutive losses to the Jennies.
The 5-3 start in MIAA play is the best eight-match start since the 2013 season.
