LIBERTY, Mo. - The William Jewell volleyball team dropped a pair on Friday but improved as the day went on. The Cardinals fell 3-1 to Sioux Falls before putting together a solid performance in a 3-1 loss to Emporia State in the nightcap.

GAME 1: HOW IT HAPPENED

• Sioux Falls broke out to a 20-7 lead and never looked back, taking the opener 25-10
• Tied at 4-4 early in the second frame, the Cardinals outscored USF 10-6, capped by two kills from Bella LaPorta to open up a 14-10 lead. The Cougars rallied to pull within one, 19-18 but Jewell took the final six points, thanks to back-to-back blocks from Caroline Beckmann, to win 25-18.
• In set three, the Cougars again jumped out to a big lead at 18-9 midway through. A kill from LaPorta and a Samantha Thompson ace pulled the Cards back within six but they could get no closer, falling 25-15.
• Tied at five early in set four, the Cougars went on a 17-3 run to open up a commanding lead and rolled to the 25-10 victory.
   

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Bella LaPorta was efficient for the Cardinals, leading the offense with 19 kills and a .381 attack percentage.
• Beckmann finished with a team high five blocks with LaPorta adding four.
• Samantha Thompson posted her first double-double of the season with 18 assists and 11 digs while Alexis Nunn had a team best 13 digs.

GAME 2: HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Cardinals came out with renewed energy in game two, jumping out to a 10-4 lead after an ace from Alexis Frazier. Emporia State used a quick 4-0 run to pull within two but two kills from Bella LaPorta helped push the advantage back to six. The Hornets rallied late, using a 15-8 run to steal the opener, 25-22.
• Jewell again broke away to an early lead in set two, after two kills from Macy Bartlett put the Cards in front 12-6. ESU again rallied to take a 20-19 lead before Jewell responded by outscoring the Hornets 6-3 the rest of the way to win 25-23.
• Emporia State jumped out to a 7-1 lead I set three only to see the Cardinals knot things up at 15 after a Katy Garrison score. The Hornets closed the set on a 10-3 run to take it 25-18.
• After trading points early, Emporia grabbed a 22-15 lead late in set four. The Cardinals did not go quietly though as kills from Bartlett, Frazier, Garrison and Sarah Madsen made it a one point game, 24-23. ESU got a kill of their own, however, to finish things off 25-23.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• LaPorta led the offense with 13 kills while Garrison added 11 on a .550 percentage and did not commit an error.
• Frazier shined with a team high 25 digs while adding 16 assists for her first career double-double.
• Samantha Thompson handed out 18 assists while Amauri Browning had 18 digs.
   

UP NEXT

 Jewell closes out the Kansas City Classic on Saturday with an 11 a.m. match up with Washburn, who is receiving votes in the national polls.