The William Jewell volleyball team used a 3-1 win over Emporia State to split the first day of the Rockhurst Classic. The Cards dropped the opener 3-0 to then undefeated Northwest Missouri State to go to 2-4 on the season. 

GAME 1 - Northwest Missouri State (16-25, 15-25, 23-25)
HOW IT HAPPENED

• SET ONE: The Cardinals fell behind early on five consecutive errors, but battled back to tie the set at 11. The Bearcats again pulled away with a 10-2 run  and took the opener 25-16. 
• SET TWO: Jewell pulled out to an early lead behind two kills from Lacey Albers and Maddie Wingert. Northwest went on a 15-3 run to open up a 20-10 advantage late in the set on their way to the 25-14 win. 
• SET THREE: The Cards battled in the finale, jumping out to a 19-16 lead on a block from Albers and Wingert. The Bearcats did not go quietly however, coming back to take set three 25-23. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The Cardinals hit a season-low .112 opposite Northwest with 32 kills. 
• Jewell allowed eight service aces while getting just three of their own. 

LEADERS OF THE FLIGHT

• Kills: Wingert (12), Paityn Hardison (6)
• Aces: Kennedy Ruckh (2)
• Blocks: Wingert (5), Meghan Tauke (4), Albers (2)
• Assists: Megan Rhule (18)
• Digs: Olivia Tolberd (11)

GAME 2 - Emporia State (25-19, 21-25, 25-22, 25-20)
HOW IT HAPPENED

• SET ONE: Jewell started strong in the second game of the day with, opening up a 22-15 lead behind three consecutive kills from Maddie Wingert, and a point by Grace Baucom. The Hornets pulled within three but kills from Lacey Albers and Paityn Hardison, combined with a Emporia error pushed Jewellto the 25-19 win. 
• SET TWO: The Cardinals struggled offensively in set two, hitting just .093, with six errors. Trailing 18-13, Jewell made things interesting pulling withing 22-20 before the Hornets scored three of the final four points to take the set 25-21.  
• SET THREE: Jewell responded by going on a 10-4 run in the middle of set three to pull ahead 20-15. Late errors allowed the Hornets to make things interesting but the Cards put the set away 25-22 on a Wingert kill. 
• SET FOUR: The final set of game two was a back-and-forth contest until the Cardinals were able to get five straight kills from four different players, to grab a 19-16 lead. Emporia pulled within one at 19-18 but Jewell six of the final eight points to take the set and the match.  

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The Cardinals hit .169 with 56 kills while holding the Hornets to a .122 clip with just 46 kills.
• Jewell put down eight blocks and allowed just two service aces.  

LEADERS OF THE FLIGHT

• Kills: Hardison (19*), Wingert (18)
• Aces: Olivia Tolberd (2)
• Blocks: Elizabeth Quinn (5), Wingert (3), Albers (3)
• Assists: Megan Rhule (41)
• Digs: Tolberd (29), Hardison (14), Kennedy Ruckh (13)

UP NEXT
The Cardinals continue action at the Rockhurst Classic on Saturday as they take on Sioux Falls at 11:00 a.m. followed by Colorado Mesa at 5:30 p.m.