The Emporia State volleyball team has started the Sioux Falls Tournament 3-0 with wins over UMary and Augustana today. This morning, ESU swept the Marauders 25-18, 25-21, 25-15 at the Stewart Center in Sioux Falls, S. D. The Lady Hornet offense was humming outhitting UMary .303 to .181 in the match. Newcomer Piper Bahr led the way with 11 kills while Mia Frisbie patrolled the net with five blocks. E-State out-aced UMary 8-3 in the match.
The Black & Gold had to work much harder in the nightcap winning their second five-setter in as many days, this time at the Sanford Pentagon. Like the first matchup, ESU faded after winning the first set only to come back and win with a 25-20, 16-25, 22-25, 25-22, 16-14 victory over the Vikings. The ESU offense sparkled hitting .333 in the first set with just four errors, but Augustana hit better than .350 over the next two sets to take control of the match. ESU dug out of a 9-4 hole in the fourth set and used a 6-1 run to take a 20-17 lead. The Vikings tied the set at 21 before ESU ended the set on a 4-1 run. The Vikings raced out to a 5-1 run in the fifth and eventually led 11-6 before the Lady Hornets rallied with a 6-1 run to tie the set at 12. Augustana scored on back-to-back points, but E-State rallied to save two match points and win the match on a 4-0 run. Four E-Staters notched double-digit kills with Bahr posting 12 to lead the way while Brailee Bogle had 33 assists and 14 digs. Miyu Tsurumaki led the defense with 18 digs and 15 assists while Delainee Dexter was an assist short of a triple-double. ESU (6-1) wraps up the event tomorrow facing Upper Iowa at 1:00 p.m.
