Box score

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- The SBU volleyball team fell to the No. 8 ranked Hornets of Emporia State in three sets. The Bearcats dropped the first two sets, 25-18, 25-13, before pushing the Hornets to the brink in the third, falling 27-25.

The 'Cats hung close early with Emporia, and after Kelsey Stewart's kill, even led the Hornets 8-6 in the first set. Emporia responded with a 12-2 run, took a 10 point lead, and pulled away for the win.

SBU would keep the second set close in the beginning, taking another 8-6 lead before Emporia answered back with another big run, taking 16 of the next 20 points to go up 22-12 and putting the set out of reach.

The third set was where the Bearcats were at their strongest, taking a 22-17 lead. Again the Hornets battled back, and the match was tied three separate times down the stretch. SBU took a quick lead after Kylie Heim's kill made the score 24-23. Emporia took the next two points to retake the lead, when a block by Ashley Jurgensmeyer and Alex Smith tied the game at 25. The Bearcats could not hold on from there, however, as the Hornets went on to take the next two points and the match.

Jurgensmeyer led SBU for the second straight match, with 10 kills. Alex Smith collected nine kills, along with four blocks, including two solos.

SBU fell to 9-15 on the season, and 2-6 in the MIAA. Emporia kept pace with conference leading Central Missouri with the win, as they improved their conference mark to 7-1, as well as 20-2 overall. The Bearcats head out one a three-game road trip, starting with a stop in Joplin to face Missouri Southern on Friday, October 16. The match is scheduled for 7 p.m.