Box Score (PDF)

THE RUNDOWN
TOPEKA, Kan. – Junior outside hitter Meghan Bettis registered a career-high 19 kills while adding 10 digs for her fourth career double-double to help Midwestern State erase a 2-0 deficit, but Emporia State (Kan.) spoiled the comeback for the Mustangs in a 3-2 win (25-17, 25-13, 16-25, 19-25, 15-10) Saturday morning at Lee Arena.

In the first set, an 8-1 run for Emporia State (1-2) propelled the Hornets to an 18-12 advantage before going on to win the opening frame, 25-17.

The Hornets carried that momentum into the second set, taking a 6-0 lead before Midwestern State (1-2) put together a run of its own to overtake ESU at 7-6. The Hornets pulled away midway through the set and ended the frame on a 6-0 run to take a 2-0 lead after a 25-13 set win, holding the Mustangs to a -.105 hitting percentage.

Bettis and junior right side hitter Sarah Garfield each tallied five kills in the third set as MSU used an early 5-0 spurt to pull away and record a 25-16 victory.

Bettis' attack continued to get stronger as the match went on, totaling nine kills with a .357 attack percentage in the fourth to lead the Maroon and Gold to a 25-19 win and knot the match at 2-2.

Emporia State put together a 5-1 run to break at 5-5 tie in the fifth set to hold a slight edge in the final frame. An ace for freshman setter Sarah Glawe pulled the Mustangs within two but the Hornets recorded the final three points of the match for the 15-10 win.

NOTES
*Meghan Bettis surpassed her previous career high of 18 kills, set on Sept. 12, 2015 vs. Ouachita Baptist
*Bettis recorded her three previous double-doubles during the 2015 season
*Freshman setter Sarah Glawe made her collegiate debut Saturday, appearing in the final three sets to lead the Mustangs with 23 assists while adding 11 digs for the double-double
*Freshman libero Sabrina Angeles led Midwestern with a season-high 13 digs
*Junior outside hitter Aerielle Edwards added nine kills for the Mustangs while Garfield came close to a double-double with nine kills and nine digs
*Midwestern State hit .112 for the match while Emporia State finished with a .161 hitting percentage
*The Hornets totaled 14 blocks for the match
 
STAT OF THE GAME
19 – Bettis' new career high in kills

QUOTE OF THE GAME
"We came out slow. I think it was hard with the turnaround from last night and playing early this morning. Our passing was off. We changed up the offense a little bit and our passing cleaned up a lot in the third set, which made a huge difference offensively for us. We weren't connecting as much with our middles which is our go-to transition offense. Not being able to connect with them was making it tougher for the rest of our attackers to find the floor. We're doing a lot more risky things this year so finding connections consistently is going to be the battle." - Head coach Natalie Rawson 

UP NEXT
Midwestern State wraps up the Washburn Invitational at 1:30 p.m. against Missouri Western.