Box Score EMPORIA, Kan. -- After the Griffons took a 2-1 lead Saturday afternoon, Emporia State came from behind to steal the victory 3-2. Both teams are now 1-1 in the MIAA.

The Griffons started out on the right track taking game one 25-20. Led by Erica Rottinghaus, who finished with a game-high 15 kills, the Griffons jumped out to a huge 14-6 lead on their opponents. The Hornets fought back, but they lost the opening set.

Missouri Western dropped a close second set that changed the match. Neither team took more than a 3-point lead, and with the Griffons ahead 23-20, the home team came back to tie it. MWSU took another point, marking it 24-23, but couldn't collect the final point as the Hornets score three straight to win 26-24.

The important third set went to the Griffons as they led 2-1.Missouri Western went on to break the 1-1 tie with a 25-23 victory. Emporia came back and grabbed an early 7-0 lead eventually winning the fourth set 25-14.

In the final set, ESU escaped with a 15-12 win. The Griffons jumped out to a 4-0 lead with two straight serving aces from Jordan Chohon. But Emporia came back after a timeout to tie the match at eight. The rest of the game went to the Hornets as they improved to 7-3. Missouri Western drops to 3-7 after splitting its first two conference matches. The Griffons defeated Northwest Missouri State Tuesday night in Maryville, Mo. for their first win in the MIAA.

Jessie Thorup had 12 kills to help out the Griffons. Chohon totaled 34 assists. Sarah Faubel led the team with 23 digs. Next up for the Griffons is their first home match of the year. They take on Fort Hays State Tuesday night at 7 p.m.