EMPORIA STATE VOLLEYBALL OPENS SEASON IN TOPEKA

Emporia State Hornets (0-0, 0-0 MIAA)
vs. Drury University Panthers (0-0, 0-0 GLVC)
Friday, Sept. 1 • 1:00 p.m. • Topeka, Kan. • Lee Arena • Live Stats
Series Record: ESU Leads 11-5 Last Meeting: Drury 3, ESU 0 (Sept. 2, 2016)
vs. Ark. Tech University (0-0, 0-0 GAC)
Friday, Sept. 1 • 5:00 p.m. • Topeka, Kan. • Lee Arena • Live Stats
Series Record: ESU Trails 1-4 Last Meeting: ESU 3, ATU 0 (Sept. 10, 2005)
vs. University of Missouri-St. Louis (0-0, 0-0 GLVC)
Saturday, Sept. 2 • 11:00 a.m. • Topeka, Kan. • Lee Arena • Live Stats
Series Record: ESU Leads 10-7 Last Meeting: ESU 3, UMSL 0 (Sept. 11, 2015)
vs. Western State Colorado University (0-0, 0-0 RMAC)
Saturday, Sept. 2 • 11:00 a.m. • Topeka, Kan. • Lee Arena • Live Stats
Series Record: ESU Leads 2-1 Last Meeting: WSCU 3, ESU 2 (1995)
Up Next: at Southwest Baptist Tournament • Fri, Sept. 8 - Sat, Sept. 9
Bolivar, Missouri • Meyer Sports Center

OPENING UP
Emporia State opens their 45th season of intercollegiate volleyball and their 13th under coach Bing Xu at the Washburn Invitational.

THE COACHES
Bing Xu is in his 13th year as head coach for Emporia State. He holds a record of 252-134 and has led the Hornets to five NCAA Tournament appearances.
Jennifer Bahner is entering her fourth year as head coach for the Drury Panthers.
Kristy Bayer is entering her 14th year as head coach for the Ark. Tech Golden Suns.
Ryan Young is entering his eighth year as head coach for the UMSL Tritons.
Keven John is entering his fourth year as head coach for the Western State Mountaineers.

SCOUTING THE HORNETS
Emporia State ended last season 15-18, 7-11 in the MIAA. The Hornets graduated five seniors from last years roster and return six players including junior's Jamie Hauptman, Julia Joseph, and Tatum Graves. Emporia State  will have nine freshman on the roster. The Hornets were picked eighth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll.

ABOUT DRURY
Drury finished last season with an overall record of 20-12, 11-7 in the GLVC. The Panthers are picked to finish third in the western division of the GLVC. Emporia State opened the season against Drury in 2016, falling in three sets to the Panthers. This will be the 17th meeting between the two teams. The Hornets lead the all-time series 11-5.

ABOUT ARKANSAS TECH
Ark. Tech finished last season with an overall record of 21-12, 11-5 in the GAC. The Golden Suns are predicted to finish third in the Great American Conference in preseason polls. The all-time series record between the two teams is 1-5. The last meeting was in 2005 when Emporia State left with the set win.
 
ABOUT MISSOURI ST. LOUIS
The University of Missouri St. Louis finished last season with a record of 18-12, 12-6 in the GLVC. The Tritons are ranked second in the central division of the GLVC in preseason polls. The Hornets hold the all-time series lead at 10-7 over the Tritons. The last meeting Sept. 11, 2015, the Hornets victory came in straight sets.
 
ABOUT WESTERN STATE COLORADO
Western State finished last season with an overall record of 14-12, and were 10-8 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC). The last time Emporia State and Western State met was in 1995 when Western State won the match. Emporia State leads the  all-time series 2-1.

NEXT SERVE
Emporia State will travel to Bolivar, Mo. to participate in the Southwest Baptist Tournament on September 8-9. The Hornets will take on Adams State and Southwest Baptist on Friday and Oklahoma Baptist and Fort Lewis on Saturday.