September 6, 2024 – Emporia State Volleyball picked up a sweep on day two of the Kansas City Classic, taking down both Sioux Falls and William Jewell in four sets on Friday.
Emporia State 3, Sioux Falls 1
The Hornets jumped ahead of the Cougars in the first set, scoring four of the first five points. After Sioux Falls rallied to take a 10-9 lead, Emporia State regained control and eventually took the first set despite hitting just .194.
In set two, Emporia State settled into their attack, hitting .324 in the set and jumping out to a 13-7 lead over the Cougars. Sioux Falls trimmed the lead to 15-12 before an 8-4 run restored a seven-point lead for the Hornets. The Hornets closed the set out 25-20 to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
Emporia State got off to a strong start in the third set, leading 12-6 halfway through the set. Sioux Falls eventually climbed back to take a 21-19 lead before taking the set 26-24 as the Hornets led the match 2-1.
The Hornets and Cougars traded points early in the fourth set, with Emporia State holding a narrow 12-11 lead. Emporia State put together a 13-4 scoring run to close the set and clinch the 3-1 win over Sioux Falls in their first match of the day.
Rayishon Jackman had 24 kills on .358 hitting in the match while
Weronika Wrzesinska added 13 kills of her own.
Brailee Bogle tallied 49 assists, a career-high in a four-set match.
Emporia State 3, William Jewell 1
In the first set, the Cardinals took five of the first six points from the Hornets, and eventually built a 12-5 lead over Emporia State. The Hornets quickly responded, tying the set 18-18 and then taking the set 25-22.
Like the first set, William Jewell again built an early lead, and despite the Hornets climbing back to take a 20-19 lead, the Cardinals evened the match with a 25-23 win in set two.
Over the next two sets, Emporia State controlled much of the scoring as they built early leads in both sets. After taking set three 25-18, the Hornets led the Cardinals 21-13 in the fourth before a late rally from the hosts nearly forced a fifth set. William Jewell cut the Hornet lead to 24-23 before a kill from
McKenya Sorrells clinch the set and the 3-1 win in the match.
Rayishon Jackman and
Weronika Wrzesinska combined for 32 kills as they both hit over .260 in the match.
Brailee Bogle added 42 assists and four kills. Wrzesinska led the team with 21 digs while Bogle, Jackman, and
Sydney Fiatte each had double-digit digs of their own.
Emporia State will close out the Kansas City Classic on Saturday, September 7 against Winona State. First serve is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. in Liberty, Mo.
