After a valiant late-season effort, the Emporia State volleyball team will not make an appearance in this year’s NCAA tournament, having its season end with a 30-18, 30-25, 30-24 loss to No. 1 Truman Tuesday night in the first round of the MIAA Tournament in Kirksville, Mo.
The Hornets needed one more victory to secure a .500 record required for a postseason berth but ended up one match short, ending their year with a 15-16 mark. ESU had previously beaten No. 18 Washburn on the road to better its chances at making the NCAAs.
Truman dominated the matchup Tuesday, with ESU only holding a lead in any game for a short period at the beginning of Game 2.
Arica Shepard led the Hornets with 13 kills and 12 digs. Senior Leah Griswold added eight kills and 17 digs, finishing her career second on the all-time ESU list in digs and third in kills.
Courtney Aguilar, Mandy Chutskoff and Jennifer Remmereid also competed in their final match for ESU.