Box Score | Season Stats

EMPORIA, Kan. - - The Truman volleyball team fell short in two close sets, then couldn't get momentum going in the third in a 3-0 sweep at the hands of Emporia State on Tuesday night. Junior Megan Sharpe led the Bulldogs with nine kills.

The first two sets could have gone either way in the match, as the Bulldogs (16-10, 5-5 MIAA) rallied back from a 24-22 deficit in the first set to knot the score at 24, then saw fortunes go the other way in the second set by seeing a 24-22 advantage be swept away with two ESU (15-8, 6-3 MIAA) points. In the first set, ESU scored the final two points to take a 26-24 decision, while in the second, the teams traded side-outs to 26-all before a Hornet kill and a Meghan Zimmerman attack error spun a 2-0 Hornet lead.

The final set turned into quick bursts, as ESU jumped out to a 7-3 lead before building it to 13-7. Truman recovered though, scoring the next seven to take a 14-13 lead. However, that was the last time the Bulldogs would lead in the match, as ESU took six of the next eight and didn't look back on the way to a 25-18 third set win.

Sharpe's nine kills led a Bulldog squad that mustered a mere .016 hitting percentage on the night. After hitting for season-highs in each of their past three matches, the 'Dogs countered 29 kills with 27 errors while being out-blocked, 12-9. The Bulldog defense kept the squad in the match, allowing ESU to only hit .135 but both Paige Vanderpool and Brianna Kiser reached double-figures offensively for the host Hornets, who salvaged a season-split with the Bulldogs with the win.

Kylie Easlon was the 'Dogs' top setter with 13 assists, while Abby Moser led the team with 16 digs.

Truman returns home for a pair of challenges this weekend, looking to avenge early season road losses to both No. 5 Washburn and Fort Hays State. The Bulldogs and WU will square off on Friday night at 7:00 pm in Pershing Arena.