Women's Volleyball | 9/2/2014 9:35:00 PM
September 2, 2014-Emporia State opens their 42nd season of intercollegiate volleyball and their tenth under coach Bing Xu at the UIS Invite in Springfield, Illinois. The Hornets have won seven straight season openers and eight of nine under coach Xu.
The Hornets went 18-11 last season, their seventh straight season with at least 18 wins, as they finished tied for fourth in the MIAA. Emporia State is set to return seven players that started at least nine matches plus the libero from last year's team.
The senior trio of Katie Deutschmann, Courtney Haring and Carly Spicer all earned honorable mention All-MIAA honors last season. Deutschmann was the 2011 MIAA Freshman of the Year and earned second-team All-MIAA honors before garnering honorable mention the last two years. Haring was a third-team All-MIAA pick as a freshman and has been honorable mention the last two years as well. Spicer has joined her fellow seniors on the honorable mention All-MIAA team the last two years as well. Sophomore Kelly Holden was also an honorable mention All-MIAA pick as a freshman at libero last season.
Emporia State will open up against Urbana at 11:00 a.m. on Friday. The Blue Knights went 10-19 last season and finished eighth in the Mountain East Conference. Their top returner is three-time All-Conference outside hitter Kelsey Volkmer. The Hornets will wrap up Friday's action against Ohio Valley College of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference at 5:00 p.m. The Fighting Scots were 16-22 last seson and led by sophomore middle blocker Imani Ward who earned second-team All-GMAC honors last year.
Saturday the Hornets will take on the host Prairie Stars of the GLVC at 1:00 p.m. Illinois-Springfield went 8-21 last year and return setter JoAnna Hoffman who recorded two triple-doubles last year.
Emporia State will make their 2014 home debut on Tuesday, September 9 against William Jewell. First serve in White Auditorium is set for 7:00 p.m.
