Emporia State Hornets (15-16, 7-11 MIAA)
at Nebraska Kearney (30-3, 16-2 MIAA)
Tuesday, Nov. 14 • 6:00 p.m. • Kearney, Neb. • Health & Sports Center
Series Record: UNK Leads 37-10 Last Meeting: UNK 3, ESU 0 (Oct. 28,2017)
Up Next: MIAA Semifinals • winner vs. winner of #4 vs. #5
at highest remaining seed • TBA
TOURNEY TIME
Emporia State finished the regular season last weekend and secured a spot in the MIAA tournament where they will travel north to face the top seeded Nebraska Kearney in the first round.
LAST TIME OUT
Emporia State fell is straight sets to #9 Central Oklahoma (25-22, 25-19, 25-16). The Hornets were led in hitting by Tatum Graves with ten kills on .769 hitting percentage followed by Jamie Hauptman with seven kills. Yuchen Du led the Hornets with 21 assists while Emma Dixon added seven. The Hornets were led by Allie Maloney with 12 digs followed by Du with nine and Kylie Acebedo with seven.
Emporia State won 3-1 over Pitt State (25-19, 21-25, 25-23, 25-16). The Hornets had three players record a double double or better in the match. Emma Dixon recorded 22 assists and ten digs while Allie Maloney had 12 assists and 12 digs. Yuchen Du recorded her seventh triple double with her ten kills, 18 assists and 18 digs on the night. The Hornets were led in hitting by Tatum Graves with 14 kills on .250 hitting percentage followed by Jamie Hauptman with 13 and Jordan Evans and Yuchen Du with 10 each. Emma Dixon led the Hornets with 22 assists followed by Du with 18 and joined in double digits by Allie Maloney with 12. Du led all players with 18 digs followed by Maloney with 12, Julia Joseph with 11 and joined in double digits, Dixon with 10.
THE COACHES
Bing Xu is 267-149 in his 13th year as head coach for Emporia State. He has led the Hornets to five NCAA Tournaments. He has led the Hornets to five MIAA Tournaments in six seasons the MIAA has held the tournament. He is 0-11 against Nebraska Kearney.
Rick Squires is 596-84 in his 19th year as head coach for Nebraska Kearney.
SCOUTING THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 15-16 on the season, 7-11 in the MIAA. Yuchen Du leads the Hornets with 329 kills, followed by Jamie Hauptman with 263 and Tatum Graves with 255. Du leads the Hornets with 665 assists while Emma Dixon adds 547. Allie Maloney is leading Emporia State with 458 digs followed by Yuchen Du with 268 and Julia Joseph with 245. Graves leads the Hornets with 99 total blocks (19 solo, 80 assists) followed by Du with 70, Valerie Golder with 61 and Mikayla Simons with 44.
ABOUT #5 NEBRASKA KEARNEY
Nebraska Kearney is 30-2 on the season, 16-2 in the MIAA. The Lopers are led by Tara Ziegelbein with 332 kills followed by Kendall Schroer with 328. Lindsey Smith leads the Lopers with 1209 assists while Ellie McDonnell leads with 463 digs. The Lopers lead the series 37-10 over the Hornets.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE #7 LOPERS
Emporia State volleyball fell 3-1 to #7 Nebraska Kearney (19-25, 25-22, 20-25, 21-25). The Hornets were led in hitting by Jamie Hauptman with 17 kills followed by Jordan Evans with 16 kills and Karly Patton with 14 kills. Yuchen Du led all players with 51 assists as she played primary setter for the Hornets in the match. Allie Maloney led all players with 27 digs.
LAST TIME IN MIAA TOURNEY
The Hornets fell in straight sets to Nebraska Kearney. Jamie Hauptman led the Hornets with ten kills. Kimberly Bell had 14 assists joined by Emma Dixon with 12 assists. Allie Maloney led all players with 14 digs.
UP NEXT
The winner will face the winner of the #4 Central Missouri vs. #5 Lindenwood game on November 17 at the highest remaining seed.
