EMPORIA, Kan. - The No. 23 Griffon volleyball team (19-5, 9-3 MIAA) fended off an Emporia State (15-7, 7-5 MIAA) upset bid in a wild five-set thriller on Halloween at the W.L. White Auditorium. MWSU claimed the match with set scores of 25-18, 21-25, 23-25, 25-10, and 15-11.
 
Both teams were neck and neck for the first 10 points of the match, which resulted in six ties and one lead change. The Griffons then took control, establishing a lead of as many as seven points. MWSU finished the set with an 8-3 run, sparked by a kill from Holly Heldt to secure an early advantage.
 
In the second set, there were five ties and three lead changes until the 12th point, as the Hornets took control and didn't allow the Griffons to regain the lead to level the match at 1-1.
 
Similar to the second set, there were several momentum shifts, resulting in six ties and five lead changes. Western reached the 20-point mark first, holding a two-point lead. However, Emporia clawed back and tied the score at 23-23. ESU later clinched the set by scoring two consecutive points, taking a 2-1 lead.
 
The Missouri Western offense came through with the match on the line, hitting an impressive .483 in the fourth set. Taylor Russell led the way with six kills, while Nessa Johnson contributed 11 assists. The Griffs dominated the set, building a lead of as much as 15 points to force a fifth set.
 
The Griffons took an early lead of 5-2 in the fifth set, but the Hornets fought back and managed to tie the score at 9-9. However, MWSU responded with a 6-2 run, which included two key blocks from Emma Salker. The junior matched her career-high of eight blocks that she established last night, helping Western improve to 2-0 against Emporia.  
 
Russell spearheaded the offensive effort, leading the match with 17 kills. Senior Lily Kurz also performed well, contributing 10 kills and seven blocks. Johnson directed the offense with 45 assists and added 14 digs, marking her 15th double-double of the season. Additionally, the Gilbert, Iowa native achieved the milestone of 100 career blocks with five blocks. Libero Anna Weberg also led the team with 15 digs.
 
Missouri Western will welcome the Central Missouri Jennies (8-11, 4-6 MIAA) next Friday to kick off the four-match home stand that will conclude the regular season. The first serve from the MWSU Fieldhouse is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.