It was a different response — and a different result — when the Emporia State volleyball team fell behind in the third game against Missouri Southern.
Just a week ago the Hornets might have panicked, letting nerves force them to make additional mistakes.
It didn’t happen Tuesday night.
ESU remained calm, concentrating on execution instead of emotion. The Hornets then took 17 of the next 21 points, grabbing a comfortable lead to finish off a 30-25, 30-27, 30-19 sweep of the 25th-ranked Lions.
“I was just really excited that we got serious and focused,” ESU sophomore Hannah Carter said.
Though ESU coach Bing Xu had previously called his team a roller coaster — with his squad experiencing numerous emotional peaks and valleys each match — he wasn’t treated to the same performance on Tuesday.
Instead, ESU played with the toughness and poise the coach had been wanting to see from his team all year at White Auditorium.
“I told them, ‘This is our home court. We practice here,’” Xu said. “‘Every time you walk here, you should feel comfortable. This is your court, not their court.’”
The improved play started with the opening game.
With the score tied at 22, ESU scored the next three points. The final two of the stretch came on clean blocks from Mandy Chutskoff and Leah Griswold.
The Hornets later scored five consecutive points to win the game, as Chutskoff ended it with a spike from the right side that was blocked out of bounds.
“We were all,” Chutskoff said, “really excited in the beginning.”
That carried over to Game Two, which featured 15 ties and seven lead changes.
After trailing 18-17, ESU took eight of the next 10 points to go up by five. The Hornets hung on to win 30-27, as Southern’s Ashley Mehrer sailed a spike out of bounds to end it.
ESU fell behind 9-5 in Game Three before recovering after a timeout.
“I think we’re getting really good at just letting (mistakes) go,” Carter said, “and getting back and focused.”
Part of the team’s success could also be attributed to a change in strategy.
Though ESU entered the match leading the MIAA in digs, it was having difficulties finishing attacks.
Because of this, Xu switched from a 5-1 formation to a 6-2 — a set that puts a third player at the net and also utilizes two setters instead of one.
“It’s been working well right now. I like it,” Chutskoff said. “It’s really quick, and the short time you’re in there you really have to focus on your job.”
Chutskoff led the Hornets, registering 14 kills. Carter added 12 kills and Arica Shepard contributed nine.
Libero Courtney Aguilar paced ESU with 22 digs. The Hornets had 87 digs in the three-game match.
The victory snapped ESU’s three-match losing streak.
The Hornets (11-12, 5-5 MIAA) will travel to the Henderson State Invitational in Arkadelphia, Ark., for four matches this weekend.