EMPORIA, Kan. – It took five sets for Missouri Western to win its fifth-straight volleyball match but the Griffons pulled it off in a close one at Emporia State.
 
The two teams traded the first four sets with neither team winning a set by more than three points. Missouri Western jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the fourth but Emporia State would come back to tie it then hang close before the Griffons were able to pull away for the 15-10 set and match win.
 
The Griffons clinched it on Jessie Thorup's 19^th kill of the night. She led all hitters with Rachel Friedrichs' career-high 15 kills second most in the match. Shellby Taylor matched her career-high with 14 kills and Lindsey Partridge finished with a career-high 12 kills. Partridge tied here previous career high with 11 kills twice last week. Missouri Western hit .242 as a team and Emporia State hit .172. The Griffons had 75 total kills, 20 more than Emporia State and their 95 digs were 21 more than Emporia State. Kayla Ruff had 29 of those digs, which tied a career high for the sophomore. Ruff also set a new personal career mark for assists with six.
 
Missouri Western improved to 15-4 overall and 7-1 in the MIAA. Match two of a five-match road swing for the Griffons will be at No. 15 Washburn, Saturday at 3 p.m.