Women's Volleyball | 10/3/2012 4:35:00 PM
HORNETS PARTICIPATE IN LADY BLUES FALL CLASSIC
Emporia State heads to Topeka, Kan. for the Lady Blues Fall Classic this weekend to face Southeastern Oklahoma State, East Central, Southern Nazarene, and Southwestern Oklahoma State.
LAST TIME OUT
Emporia State lost 3-1 on the road at Fort Hays State last Saturday. Paige Vanderpool led the Hornets with 12 kills, Meg Schwartz added 20 digs. The Hornets forced #1 Nebraska-Kearney to five sets for the first time this season but fell 3-2. Vanderpool recorded a double-double with 18 kills, 17 digs. Courtney Haring had nine total blocks (one solo, eight assists). Morgan Buckner contributed 14 kills, seven digs, and six block assists.
LAST TIME VS. OPPONENTS
Sixth-ranked Emporia State faced SEOSU at the Lady Blues Fall Classic in 2009 and won 3-0. Emporia State last played East Central at the 2010 UCM Tournament in Warrensburg, Mo. and won 3-0. The Hornets swept Southern Nazarene 3-0 in their last meeting in 1991. SWOSU and ESU met in the 2009 Lady Blues Fall Classic, where the sixth-ranked Hornets won 3-0.
SERIES RECORDS
Emporia State has a 2-0 advantage all-time versus SEOSU, East Central, and SWOSU. Emporia State leads the all-time series with Southern Nazarene 8-4.
THE?COACHES
Bing Xu is 182-69 in his eighth year as head coach at Emporia State. Xu has led the Hornets to the NCAA Division II Regional Tournament in five of the last seven seasons. In 2008 he led Emporia State to its first MIAA Championship.
Jenn King is 26-47 in her third year as head coach of Southeastern Oklahoma State.
Dave Thorn is 63-118 in his fifth year as head coach of East Central.
Kevin Ingram is 255-188 in his 12th year as head coach of Southern Nazarene.
Josh Collins is 5-11 in his first year as head coach of Southwestern Oklahoma State.
SCOUTING?THE OPPONENTS
Southeastern Oklahoma State lost its match Tuesday at Southern Nazarene 3-0. Megan Kunkel and Emily Gentle share the team lead with 2.96 kills per set. The Savage Storm have victories over Texas A&M-Commerce and Northwestern Okla. St.
East Central hosted Central Oklahoma Tuesday and fell 3-1. Tatiana Booth leads the Tigers with 2.63 kills per set. Hayley Gerken has 59 total blocks on the season, averaging 0.91 blocks per set.
Southern Nazarene won at home 3-0 over SEOSU on Tuesday. Outside hitter Natalia Oliveria and setter Taylor Chase earned GAC player of the week honors last week. Oliveria recorded two double-doubles and Chase averaged 11.45 assists per set in three matches.
Southwestern Oklahoma State won Saturday at home versus Arkansas Monticello 3-1. The Bulldogs are led by Ariana Rodriguez with 1.98 kills per set and Alison Cole with 1.96 kills per set and 47 total blocks including 21 solo.
HORNETS IN TOURNAMENTS
The Lady Blues Fall Classic is the third and final non-conference tournament for the Hornets in 2012. Emporia State has a record of 5-3 and has won 19 of 29 sets in tournaments this season. The Hornets have held opponents to a .113 hitting percentage in tournaments this season, with Meg Schwartz averaging 5.38 digs per set in those contests. Brianna Kaiser leads the Hornets with 2.83 kills per set while Carly Spicer has hit .317 in tournaments. Setter Sydney Hartman has been the main facilitator for the Emporia State offense, averaging 6.10 assists per set. Courtney Haring has been the top blocker, averaging 1.07 blocks per set.
HARING AND SCHWARTZ IN TOP 30 NATIONALLY
Entering this week, sophomore middle hitter Courtney Haring and senior libero Meg Schwartz were ranked in the top 30 nationally in blocks per set and digs per set respectively. Haring ranks first in the MIAA and 22nd nationally with 1.27 blocks per set. Schwartz is fourth in the MIAA and 27th nationally with 5.08 digs per set. The NCAA ranks the top 150 individuals in each category.
UP?NEXT
Emporia State returns to the road to face Missouri Southern at Young Gymnasium on Oct. 12 in Joplin, Mo. at 7 p.m. The Hornets then travel to Bolivar, Mo. to take on Southwest Baptist at 6 p.m. on Oct. 13.
