October 30, 2024 - Emporia State battled with Northwest Missouri on Wednesday night in White Auditorium and was able to rally from a 2-1 deficit, clinching the match in five sets. The win for the Hornets secured the season sweep of the Bearcats, their first over Northwest Missouri since 2011.
Northwest Missouri controlled most of the first set, as the visitors built an early 7-2 lead over Emporia State. The Bearcats went on to take set one 25-17. In the second, the Hornets found their footing, hitting .400 and limiting the Bearcats to just .067 at the net.
Camilla Ossola highlighted the second set, tallying six kills in the frame. Emporia State went on take set two 25-12, leveling the match at 1-1.
The Hornets and Bearcats traded points throughout most of the set three, with the Hornets eventually holding a late 18-17 advantage over the visitors. After Northwest Missouri brought the score level at 19-19, the scored six of the final eight points to take set three over Emporia State 25-21. Emporia State entered the fourth set by taking an early 9-5 lead over the Bearcats, and despite several pushes in the set by Northwest Missouri, including a late 4-1 run to trim the Hornet lead to 24-22, the Hornets got another kill from
Camilla Ossola to clinch the set and force a final fifth.
In set five, the Bearcats jumped in front, leading the Hornets 5-2 early on. Four straight kills in response by Emporia State gave the Hornets a 6-5 advantage that eventually swelled to 10-7. Northwest Missouri fought back, making the score 13-13 after a 6-3 scoring run. A kill from
Weronika Wrzesinska and an attack error by the Bearcats proved to be the difference as Emporia State clinched set five 15-13 and the match 3-2.
Camilla Ossola set a new career-high with 21 kills on .275 hitting and was joined in double figures by
Weronika Wrzesinska who had 16 kills in the match.
Brailee Bogle had 32 assists while
Sydney Fiatte had 21 of her own. Lillian Ziegler had a solo block and five assists, her second career match with five or more block assists.
Emporia State will be back in action on Halloween, Thursday, October 31 as they host Missouri Western at White Auditorium. First serve between the Hornets and Griffons is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
