MARYVILLE, Mo. – The No. 15-ranked Northwest Missouri State University volleyball team responded from a one-set deficit to serve up a 3-1 win over the visiting Emporia State University Hornets Saturday night at Bearcat Arena.
 
Northwest won by set scores of 22-25, 25-11, 25-12 and 25-11. Northwest recorded its fourth straight win and moved to 16-5 overall. Northwest is 10-3 in MIAA play. Emporia State fell to 4-19 overall and 1-12 in league play.
 
Northwest has won eight in a row in the series and 12 of the last 12 matchups. The Bearcats have defeated the Hornets six straight times in Maryville.
 
Northwest head coach Amy Woerth secured her 177th coaching victory to move into second place in school history. Woerth surpassed Pam Stanek, who notched 176 coaching wins from 1977 to 1981. Sarah Pelster holds the school record in coaching wins with 199 from 1991-2002.
 
The Bearcats levied 18 service aces, the third-most in a single match in program history. The 18 service aces are the most by a Bearcat team in a four-set match in school history. Kristen Ford blasted seven service aces to lead the way.
 
The Hornets took the first set by storm with a 25-22 triumph. ESU hit .324 with 18 kills and sided out at 50%. Northwest hit .258 with 12 kills and sided out at a 44% clip.
 
Northwest turned it around the final three sets and allowed ESU to net only 34 more points. Northwest hit .333 in the second set with 15 kills. Northwest hit .276 with 11 kills in the third. Northwest sided out at 100% in the fourth set and hit .436 with 15 kills and only one attack error.
 
Jaden Ferguson secured a double-double with 13 kills and 10 digs to go along with five service aces. Payton Kirchhoefer also tallied a double-double with 11 kills and 19 digs. Alyssa Rezac posted a double-double with 45 assists and 10 digs.
 
Northwest will return to action Tuesday at Missouri Western. The Bearcats and Griffons will begin at 6 p.m. in St. Joseph, Mo.