November 13, 2025 – #24 Emporia state volleyball fell in five sets on Thursday night against #7 Central Oklahoma.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set one started with the Hornets and Bronchos trading points early and Central Oklahoma leading 5-4 before five straight Emporia State points put the Hornets ahead 9-5 and forced a Broncho timeout. The Hornets continued to build on their lead throughout the set, taking set one 25-15.
Central Oklahoma came out on the front foot in set two, leading 9-5 to force a Hornet timeout. After the break, the rally started for Emporia State, as they scored 11 of the next 14 points to take a 16-12 advantage. The Bronchos would not trim the deficit below two points for the remainder of the frame, as the Hornets took a 2-0 lead behind a 25-19 set two win.
In set three, the Bronchos took the early lead, which included a 10-5 advantage. Emporia State rallied back to tie the set 15-15. Both teams traded points on their way to an 18-18 tie, before the Bronchos rallied late. A 7-2 scoring run to end the set gave Central Oklahoma a 25-18 win in the third set.
Emporia State led set four 13-8 midway through which forced a timeout by the Bronchos.
Sydney Fiatte delivered a service ace after the break, which put the Hornets ahead 14-8, their largest lead of the set. The Bronchos eventually closed the gap, setting up a 19-19 tie heading into the final stretch of set four. Central Oklahoma pushed ahead to a 24-22 lead, but the Hornets stifled a pair of set points on a Broncho error and a kill by
Nyia Anderson.
Both teams had a pair of chances to clinch the set, with the Bronchos converting on their second opportunity, sealing a 30-28 win in the set and force a decisive fifth frame.
In the fifth, Central Oklahoma took control from the start, scoring the first two points on their way to an 8-2 lead over the Hornets at the switch. The lead swelled to 10-3 after the sides flipped, before the Hornets tried to rally back. Emporia State scored four of the next five points, closing the deficit to 11-7.
A LOOK AT THE STATS
Nyia Anderson and
Lavra Krizanic led the Hornets with 22 and 20 kills respectively. The Hornets hit just .149 in the match and only .100 in the final three sets.
UP NEXT
Emporia State will wrap up the regular season on Friday, November 14 at White Auditorium as they take on Arkansas-Fort Smith. First serve between the Hornets and Lions is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
