EMPORIA STATE VOLLEYBALL FACES #7 NEBRASKA-KEARNEY

Women's Volleyball | 11/5/2013 11:32:00 AM

Emporia State (15-8, 6-5 MIAA) 

at #7 Neb.-Kearney (24-3, 10-2 MIAA) 

Tues., Nov. 5 • 7:00 p.m. • Health & Sports Center • Kearney, Neb.            

Series Record: UNK Leads 25-10 

Last Meeting: UNK 3, at ESU 0 [25-18, 25-14, 25-22] (Oct. 4, 2013)             

Up Next: Nov. 8 vs. Central Oklahoma 

White Auditorium • Emporia, Kan.

Emporia State will begin the final stretch of the season at #7 Neb.-Kearney. The Hornets are battling for a home berth in the first round of the MIAA Tournament and will play three of their final five against teams within two games of them in the MIAA standings.

LAST TIME OUT

Despite holding leads in all three sets, Emporia State had its seven-match win-streak snapped in a three set loss at #11 Washburn. The Hornets led 22-20 in the first set but the Ichabods came back for a 25-23 win. Paige Vanderpool had eight kills and 12 digs in the loss, while Sydney Hartman added 13 assists and 10 digs.

THE?COACHES

Bing Xu is 208-83 in his ninth year as head coach at Emporia State. Xu has led the Hornets to the NCAA Division II Regional Tournament in five of the last eight seasons. In 2008 he led Emporia State to its first MIAA Championship. He is 4-14 against Washburn.

Rick Squiers is 476-64 in his 15th season at UNK and 682-123 in his 21st year overall. He has a record of 5-0 against Emporia State.

SCOUTING THE HORNETS  

Emporia State has won seven of their last eight matches to move to 15-8 overall, 6-5 in the MIAA.  Carly Spicer leads the Hornets in kills per set at 2.56 while Courtney Haring averages 1.15 blocks per set. Kelly Holden leads the team in digs at 4.36 per set and Sydney Hartman and Macki Pankratz average 5.31 and 5.30 assists per set respectively.  

SCOUTING THE LOPERS

Nebraska-Kearney is 24-3 overall, 10-2 in the MIAA and ranked #7 in the AVCA Poll. Ashley Leitner is ranked second in the MIAA in kills at 3.78 per set. Erin Seele is the MIAA leader in assists at 11.38 per set.  Ellie Pesavento hits .365 to lead the MIAA as well.

SERIES RECORDS    

Neb.-Kearney leads the all-time series 25-10 and has won eight straight. The last win for Emporia State was a 3-0 sweep in 1990.

LAST TIME VS. NEB.-KEARNEY

Emporia State fell in straight sets to #5 Neb.-Kearney 25-18, 25-14, 25-22 in White Auditorium.  Brianna Kaiser had ten kills on .556 hitting with nine digs for the Hornets while Carly Spicer added ten kills on .529 hitting.  The rest of the Hornets hit a combined .012 on the night.The Lopers were led by MJ Massanet with ten kills on.529 hitting with 13 digs as they hit .321 as a team.

IN THE MIAA

Shayla Cotman and Courntey Haring are both in the top 10 in hitting percentage in the MIAA. Haring is hitting .314 to rank ninth with Cotman at .311 in tenth. Haring is fourth in the league with 1.15 blocks per set. Freshman Kelly Holden is sixth in the MIAA with 4.36 digs per set.

UP NEXT 

Emporia State returns to White Auditorium for the final two regular season matches of the year this weekend.  The Hornets host Central Oklahoma on Friday and Pittsburg State on Saturday.