BOX SCORE (PDF) | SEASON STATS (PDF)

EMPORIA, Kansas - The No. 14-ranked Northwest Missouri State Bearcat volleyball team rallied from a two-set deficit and scored a five-set win at Emporia State on Friday.

Northwest won by set scores of 25-27, 19-25, 25-20, 25-17 and 15-10. Northwest improves to 14-4 overall and 7-3 in MIAA play. Emporia State falls to 5-13 overall and 1-9 in league action.

The Bearcats leaned heavily on their junior class to complete the comeback victory on the road. Hallie Sidney registered a double-double with 22 kills and 12 digs. Morgan Lewis registered 15 kills and six blocks. Maddy Ahrens also posted a double-double with 54 assists and 13 digs.

The Bearcats overcame an errant serving night with 15 service errors, but made up for it by only making 14 attack errors. Northwest hit .290 for the match with 67 kills, while Emporia State was held to .167 with 57 kills.

Northwest turned it around in the third set as the Bearcats added seven blocks and forced Emporia State to hit -.024 with eight kills and nine errors. Northwest had 11 blocks in the the match, while ESU had three total blocks.

The Bearcats took off in the fourth set by hitting .424 with 15 kills and one error.

Northwest took advantage of a .346 hitting percentage in the fifth set by pounding down 12 kills against three errors. The Hornets hit .176 with five kills and two errors in the fifth.

Northwest will travel to Topeka, Kansas, on Saturday for a 3 p.m. matchup against No. 4-ranked Washburn.

NOTES: It's the first time since Sept. 3, 2016 vs. Maryville University, that Northwest was able to rally from a two-set deficit and come back to win a match ... the last time Northwest rallied from a 2-0 deficit to win an MIAA match came Nov. 15, 2013, vs. Southwest Baptist in Maryville ... the Bearcats are 4-1 in five-set matches in 2019 ... Bethany Elkins had 11 kills and hit .435 ... Hannah Koechl had three aces and 14 digs.