EMPORIA, Kan. – The No. 13-ranked Northwest Missouri State University volleyball team picked up a 3-0 triumph over the Emporia State University Hornets at White Auditorium on Friday evening.
Northwest won by set scores of 25-20, 25-23 and 25-22. Northwest improved its season mark to 8-3 overall and 2-1 in MIAA play. ESU dropped to 3-9 overall and 1-3 in league matches. Northwest has won seven in a row in the series and 10 of the last 11 matchups with Emporia State. The Bearcats have defeated the Hornets four consecutive times in Emporia, Kan.
Junior
Jaden Ferguson put up 15 kills and 15 digs to guide the Bearcats to a sweep of the Hornets. It marks the third double-double this season and fourth in her Bearcat career.
Graduate transfer
Kelly Wiedemann collected her third straight double-figure kill match as she recorded 10 kills. Wiedemann also earned a double-double with 11 digs for her second double-double this season.
Junior setter
Alyssa Rezac recorded 41 assists and a team-best two service aces. Sophomore libero
Kristen Ford notched a team-high 16 digs.
The opening set featured seven ties as the teams battled to a 14-14 deadlock. Northwest used a 6-1 spurt to take a 20-15 lead on its way to a 25-20 set-one win. Northwest hit .342 with 15 kills and two errors, while ESU hit .306 with 15 kills and four errors.
Jaden Ferguson led the offensive attack with five kills.
The second set saw both squads open up narrow leads only to have the Bearcats gain the upper hand when it was all said and done. The set included 10 ties and six lead changes. Northwest took a 7-4 lead. ESU responded with a 6-1 run to take a 10-8 lead to force a Bearcat timeout. Northwest came out of the timeout blazing and stung the Hornets with a 7-2 run to take a 15-12 advantage. ESU refused to wilt and took it to Northwest with a 4-0 run to give the Hornets an 18-17 lead. The set would be tied at 18-18, 19-19, 20-20 and 21-21, before Northwest gained a 23-21 edge forcing an ESU timeout. Wiedemann guided the Bearcats down the stretch in set two with two kills and a block to push the 'Cats to a 25-23 win and a 2-0 match lead. Northwest hit .115 with 12 kills and six errors, while ESU hit .120 with 13 kills and seven errors. Wiedemann secured six second-set kills.
Northwest built a seemingly comfortable five-point lead at 10-5. However, ESU did not go away and used a 10-5 run to level the set at 15-15. ESU took a pair of three-point leads at 18-15 and 20-17. Northwest took a timeout and regrouped to draw back even at 20-20. Northwest scored four of the final points of the match to take a 25-22 triumph. Northwest hit .188 in the third with 17 kills and eight errors. ESU hit .235 with 12 kills and four errors.
Northwest will travel to Topeka, Kan., tomorrow for a matchup against the No. 2-ranked Washburn Ichabods. The match will get underway at 6 p.m.
