October 31, 2024 - For the third time in five days from White Auditorium, Emporia State volleyball played into the fifth set, this time against #23 Missouri Western on Halloween night.
In set one, the Hornets limited the Griffons to just nine kills and .200 hitting, but committed eight errors, allowing Missouri Western to pull away to take the first set 25-17. Emporia State was able to flip the script in set two. After the Griffons took an early 5-2 lead, an 8-1 scoring run by the Hornets, which included four Griffon errors and a pair of service aces as Emporia State took a 10-6 lead. The Hornets would lead for most the remainder of set two, and despite a late push by Missouri Western to trim the lead to 22-21, the Hornets were able to get three straight points on three more Griffon errors to take the set 25-21 and even the match.
Set three was the best attacking set of the night for Emporia State, as they hit .214 and had 16 kills, taking the third 25-23. In the fourth, Missouri Western controlled the set, hitting nearly .500 and forcing eight Hornet errors to even the match with a 25-10 win in set four.
Emporia State got off to a slow start in the fifth, allowing Missouri Western to take an early 5-2 lead. After the early run by the visitors, the Hornets got back on track, eventually bringing the score level at 9-9. After the two teams traded points, Missouri Western closed on a 5-1 scoring run, clinching the fifth 15-11 and taking the match 3-2.
The Hornets hit just .072 as the Griffons hit .209 on the night. Emporia State was led in attack by
Weronika Wrzesinska and
Zuzanna Buchnajzer who had 15 and 10 kills respectively.
McKenya Sorrells had nine kills on .286 hitting and
Brailee Bogle and
Sydney Fiatte combined for 44 assists in the match. On defense,
Rayishon Jackman had a team-high 22 digs and
Mia Frisbie had five block assists, her seventh match this season with five or more block assists.
Emporia State's home stand will wrap up next weekend with matchups against Fort Hays State and Nebraska-Kearney. The Hornets will take on the Tigers on Friday, November 8 with first serve scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
