Bearcats split opening two MIAA matches
JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM
Northwest coach Amy Woerth pounds her chest as she encourages her team in the fourth set on Saturday against Emporia State in Bearcat Arena.
MARYVILLE, Mo. — In the MIAA, there is never a match where you can relax. It is true across sports and Northwest Missouri State volleyball saw that in action last weekend.
The Bearcats (7-5; 1-1 MIAA) picked up a statement win over No. 24 Washburn last Friday in five sets — winning 18-25, 28-26, 25-19, 19-25 and 15-12. Veterans Abby Brunssen and Payton Kirchhoefer were forces in that match with 25 and 21 kills respectively.
“We came out guns blazing kinda,” Brunssen said. “It was a really good game all the way around for Washburn and us.”
Ella Caffery had 49 assists and Kyah Luhring had 27 digs to lead the team in those categories.
As it goes with the volleyball Friday-Saturday schedule, there was little time to celebrate the big win as Emporia State was visiting Bearcat Arena.
“We gotta put two days in a row together,” Northwest coach Amy Woerth said. “Obviously, it was fun to beat Washburn, but you gotta turn around and play another good opponent — welcome to the MIAA. We gotta find a way to put two days together back-to-back.”
Emporia State (9-3; 1-1 MIAA) picked up their own statement win with scores of 23-25, 25-18, 25-19 and 27-25.
“I feel like it was a little bit of a hangover,” Brunssen said. “There are like seven seniors, we are all getting kinda old. We just didn’t bounce back how we were expecting. They scouted us really well and played really well against us.”
The first set was back and forth, but the Hornets grabbed a 21-16 lead late. Northwest responded with back-to-back Brunssen kills.
Emporia State held a 23-20 lead when Brunssen got another kill then an error made it 23-22. Kirchhoefer took over with three-straight kills to close out the set.
“Once we get momentum, we are pretty hard to stop,” Brunssen said. “But once the other team gets momentum — it is a momentum game. That is what volleyball is.”
The Hornets jumped out to a 12-6 lead in the second set, but Northwest answered with a 6-0 run to tie it up. The Bearcats couldn’t keep up though as Emporia State pulled away for the 25-18 win.
It was another fast start in the third set as the Hornets took control midway through the set and didn’t look back in a 25-19 win.
The fourth set was the most back and forth of the day with Emporia State building a 13-7 lead. Northwest answered and a Sophia Gartner kill cut it to 14-13.
Trailing 21-19, the Bearcats rattled off a 5-0 run to make it 24-21 highlighted by two Brunssen kills. Emporia State made its run back though and Rayishon Jackman had three-straight kills to tie the match. The Hornets had the final plunge to win it 27-25.
“Finishing is one of the hardest things to do in volleyball,” Brunssen said. “We hit 24 and we’re like, ‘game over.’ Well, it is not over until you hit 25. We just couldn’t put that last ball away.”
Brunssen finished with 18 kills and four blocks while Caffery had 36 assists and Luhring had 19 digs.
“I have no problems with their want, and with their drive, and with how hard they are working and their effort,” Woerth said. “We just couldn’t put it together tonight the way that we needed to.”
Northwest resets for a road trip west this week — playing at Fort Hays State on Friday and Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday.
“We are going to come back even better next week,” Brunssen said.
