Box Score

 

Oct. 22, 2008 – Eli Medina was one of two Bulldogs with 15 kills and was the overall match-leader with 27 digs, but her effort wasn’t enough as the 10th-ranked Truman volleyball squad fell 3-2 (24-26, -19, 22-25, -22, 13-15) Wednesday night to 9th-ranked Emporia State in Kirksville.

 

Four Bulldogs recorded double-digit kills, including Medina and Allie Cherven’s 15. Dana Hanselmann finished with 14 kills and Truman’s lone service ace, while Melissa Keck added 12 kills and four block assists.

 

Ashley Petak took top setting honors for Truman on the night, finishing with 30 assists while also tacking on 16 digs. Whitney Boehler joined Medina above the twenty dig mark, finishing with 22.

 

The Bulldogs had a chance to get on top early, leading 22-20 in the first set, but ESU rattled off four out five to take a 24-23 advantage. Medina put down a kill to knot the score, but Brittney Miller (11 kills) and Megan Koster (17 kills, 15 digs) went back-to-back to steal the first set in front of the home crowd.

 

Truman responded in the second frame, winning 25-19, and led 22-21 in the third set before Emporia pulled off a four-point rally to garner a 2-1 advantage in the match.

 

The Hornets (24-2, 10-1 MIAA) jumped out quickly and looked to be in control in the fourth set, leading 16-11, before Truman (21-6, 8-3 MIAA) pieced together a 6-1 run to even the score at 17 apiece. The Bulldogs maintained momentum and took the match to a deciding fifth set, winning 25-22.

 

The numbers appeared to be on Truman’s side entering the final frame, as the Bulldogs had posted a perfect 4-0 mark in five-set matches so far in 2008. The squads traded side-outs through the first eight points, before Emporia separated themselves for what would be the final time. ESU took six of the next eight points to lead 10-6 – enough to keep Truman at bay – and eventually hold on for a 15-13 set win.

 

Arica Shepard finished with 21 kills and 23 digs for Emporia – a team-high in both categories for the Hornets, who swept the regular season series with Truman following the win Wednesday night.

 

The Bulldogs hit the road for three straight, starting Friday at 7th-ranked Washburn – a team Truman beat 3-2 in mid-September in Kirksville. Live stats and video will be available through the Truman athletics Web site at gobulldogs.truman.edu.