HAYS, Kansas – The Yellow Jackets dropped both matches in day one of the Tiger Classic. Falling to SMSU in straight sets losing 15-25, 21-25, and 12-25 and losing to ESU in five sets losing set one 21-25, winning set two 25-20, losing set three 17-25, winning set four 25-22, and falling in set five 14-16.
 
Madison Hoopman led the Yellow Jackets with kills recording seven.
 
Karly Marx led BHSU is assists with 12.
 
Haedyn Rhoades recorded seven digs and was the lone Yellow Jacket to serve an ace in the contest.
 
In the first set of the day the Yellow Jackets struck first getting the first point on the board; however, SMSU came back with a vengeance recording four straight points. The Yellow Jackets struggled to string together points in the first set of the day as SMSU recorded points in groups throughout the set. Despite four kills from Hoopman, BHSU was unable to come back from behind dropping set one 15-25.
 
Set two saw BHSU and SMSU trade points early in the contest. BHSU held the slight edge through the beginning of the contest holding on to a two-point lead until SMSU tied the set up at 10 all. The Mustangs would take their first lead of the game at 17-16. BHSU would take the lead again at 19-18 before things were tied up at 19 all. SMSU would outscore BHSU 7-2 to close out set two with the Mustangs going up two sets to zero over the Yellow Jackets.
 
The Mustangs struck first in set three going up 9-0 before a timeout by BHSU. The Yellow Jackets went back and forth with the Mustangs point for point throughout much of the remaining set but were unable to overcome the early nine-point deficit falling to the Mustangs 25-12.
 
Four Yellow Jackets recorded double digit kills including Peyton Bodemann (10), Sierra Ward (12), Kindra Cerrone (12), and Madison Hoopman (13).
 
Karly Marx led the team in assists with 38.
 
While Haedyn Rhoades recorded 24 digs. Hoopman recorded 20 digs as well.
 
Two Yellow Jackets recorded aces in the contest, Emma DeSanti and Kindra Cerrone.
 
In their second contest of the day the Yellow Jackets started out battling Emporia State University trading points with one another to open set one before ESU pulled ahead with a three-point edge over BHSU. The Yellow Jackets and ESU played even ball throughout much of the contest as the teams stayed within three points of one another. The Yellow Jackets would be unable to overcome the three-point deficit falling to ESU in set one 21-25.
 
Bodemann and Ward made their presence known in the front row to open set two with a block to get the Yellow Jackets on the board first. After the two teams traded points ESU would go on a 4-1 run putting them ahead of the Yellow Jackets 12-8 early in the set. Behind kills by Bodemann and Cerrone and strong serving from Hoopman the Yellow Jackets would reply with four points straight to knot things up at 12 all. The Yellow Jackets kept rolling from that point on putting up 13 points to ESU's 8 to take the set two victory 25-20 and tie the match at one all.
 
Set three saw the Yellow Jackets get ahead early behind kills from Hoopman and Ward going up 2-0 to open the set. Following the strong start by BHSU, ESU would go on a six-point run to give them a four-point lead over the Yellow Jackets. This lead would prove to be difficult for the Yellow Jackets to over come and they would end up falling to ESU 17-25.
 
BHSU struck first in set four putting up a quick three points. The Yellow Jackets would ride that momentum through much of the match putting up strings of points as they went. Although ESU would make up some ground throughout play BHSU would hold on to a one-point lead through the match before winning the set 25-22.


Set five saw ESU get on the board first followed by a quick run by the Yellow Jackets to put them up 6-2. The Yellow Jackets would hold that lead until ESU put together a four-point run to go up 12-11 over BHSU.

Up Next
The Yellow Jackets are back in action tomorrow for day two of the Tiger Classic competing at 9:00 A.M. and 12:30 P.M.