ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Griffon Volleyball took down Emporia State on Friday night by a score of 3-1 at the MWSU Fieldhouse to qualify for the MIAA tournament at Civic Arena in St. Joseph. 

The Hornets (4-24, 1-18 MIAA) came out strong in the first set, but the Griffons 10-17, 7-12 MIAA) stormed back in the next three sets. Katherine White and Emma Salker led the Griffons with 14 and 13 kills apiece, while Nessa Johnson found 44 assists and 12 digs for her fourth double-double of the season. Lia Graham finished with 15 digs. 

GRIFFONS PUNCH TICKET TO MIAA TOURNAMENT
The win solidifies the Griffons as high as the eighth spot in the race for the final spots for the MIAA Tournament, combined with a loss by Fort Hays State against Pittsburg State. Regardless of results tomorrow, the Griffons will finish as low as eighth due to tiebreakers.

SET 1
ESU 25, MWSU 21
Five kills from the Hornet's Leah Mach led the way for Emporia. The Griffons scored the first three points of the set and led the match or was tied with the Hornets until the 20-19 mark when ESU took the lead. The Griffons couldn't find their way back and fell in the set.

SET 2
MWSU 25, ESU 16
The Griffons came out of the break on fire, led by four kills in the set by Salker, bringing her total for the match to nine through two sets. The set was fairly close through the first 12 points, with the Griffons holding a 7-5 lead. A powerful kill by Danielle Moje sparked MWSU, and the Griffons rattled off 14 of the next 18 points to take a 20-8 lead. The Hornets tried to get back in the set, but a ball-handling error from the Hornets put the set away.

SET 3
MWSU 25, ESU 19
Emporia State hung with the Griffons for the majority of the set. White had five kills in the set, and Hailey Crane added three more to give the Griffons the set. The big run in the set came at 17-15 Griffons. A service error from ESU led to the Griffons scoring seven of the next nine points.

SET 4
MWSU 25, ESU 17
The Griffons jumped out to a lead early, taking a 9-3 lead. White had six kills in the set to lead the Griffons. An 8-2 run starting at the 10-5 mark led to the Griffons taking a 10-point lead in the set. The Griffons went into cruise control, finishing the set and the match off on a Salker kill.

NOTABLES

• Salker's 13 kills is a new career high.
•  Johnson added to her new career milestone of 1,000 career assists with 44 on the night.
• Crane and Johnson joined Jessica Sachen with one service ace apiece.
• Salker led the Griffons with four blocks. 
• The Griffons head to the MIAA Tournament for the eighth time in a row (not including the lack of tournmanents in 2014 and 2020).

UP NEXT
The Griffons host No. 17 Washburn (21-6, 13-6 MIAA) tomorrow for Senior Day. First serve is slated for 3 p.m. at the MWSU Fieldhouse.