Emporia State Hornets (7-5, 0-0 MIAA)
at Fort Hays State (8-6, 0-0 MIAA)
Friday, Sept. 22 • 6:00 p.m. • Hays, Kan. • Gross Memorial Coliseum
Series Record: ESU Leads 55-29 Last Meeting: FHSU 3, ESU 0 (Oct. 7, 2016)
at #5 Nebraska Kearney (11-1, 0-0 MIAA)
Saturday, Sept. 23 • 3:00 p.m. • Kearney, Neb.• Cushing Coliseum
Series Record: UNK Leads 35-10 Last Meeting: UNK 3, ESU 0 (Nov. 14, 2016)
Live Video •
Live Stats •
Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: vs. Washburn • Tuesday, Sept. 26 • 6:00 p.m.
Emporia, Kan. • William L. White Auditorium
CONFERENCE OPENER
Emporia State travels west this weekend to take on Fort Hays State and Neb.-Kearney in the opening weekend of MIAA play.
LAST TIME OUT
Emporia State went 3-1 in the MIAA/GAC Challenge. On Friday the Hornets won matches against Southeastern Oklahoma State (3-1) and Southwestern Oklahoma State (3-0). On Saturday the Hornets won their first match of the day 3-1 against East Central and lost their second match 3-2 to Oklahoma Baptist.
THE COACHES
Bing Xu is 259-139 in his 13th year as head coach for Emporia State. He has led the Hornets to five NCAA Tournaments.
Brandi Fairbank is in her first year as interim head coach at Ft. Hays State. She took over as interim head coach on September 14, 2017 after joining the program earlier in the year as an assistant.
Rick Squiers is 571-81 in his 19th season as head coach at Neb.-Kearney.
SCOUTING THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 7-5 on the season. Yuchen Du, who has recorded four triple doubles this year, leads the Hornets with 163 kills, followed by Jamie Hauptman with 107 and Tatum Graves with 101. Emma Dixon leads the Hornets in assists with 269 while Du adds 228. Allie Maloney is leading Emporia State with 164 digs followed by Dixon with 109 and Du with 107. Graves leads the Hornets with 39 total blocks followed by Du with 31 and Valerie Golder with 28.
MIAA TOP TEN
Yuchen Du leads the MIAA with 163 kills, is third in k/s with 3.62 and seventh in hitting at .313. Emma Dixon is eighth in the MIAA in assists with 269 and tenth in a/s with 5.98. Allie Maloney is tenth with 164 digs and ninth in d/s with 2.41. Tatum Graves is sixth in total blocks, Du is eighth and Valerie Golder is tenth.
ABOUT FORT HAYS STATE
Fort Hays State is 8-6 on the season. The Tigers are led by Kylie Rollman with 156 kills, Amirah Bentley with 455 assists and Taylor White with 256 digs.
SERIES HISTORY
Emporia State leads the all-time series 55-29 over Fort Hays State.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE TIGERS
Emporia State lost in straight sets to Ft. Hays State in White Auditorium. There were four Hornets with at least six kills in the match led by Josie Williams with nine. Allie Maloney led the match with 24 digs and Emma Dixon was one dig away from having a double double with 17 assists and nine digs.
ABOUT #5 NEB.-KEARNEY
Neb.-Kearney is 11-1 on the season and are currently on an eight game win streak. The #5 Lopers are led by Kaitlyn Thomas with 127 kills followed by Tara Ziegelbein with 115 and Kendall Schroer with 112. Lindsey Smith has 428 assists and Ellie McDonnel leads the team with 167 digs.
SERIES HISTORY
Nebraska Kearney leads the all-time series 35-10 over Emporia State.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE LOPERS
Emporia State fell in straight sets to #3 Nebraska Kearney in the first round of the MIAA Tournament. The Hornets were led by Jamie Hauptman with ten kills and Kimberly Bell with 14 assists followed by Emma Dixon with 12. Allie Maloney led all players with 14 digs on the match.
NEXT SERVE
Emporia State will play host to Washburn Tuesday, September 24 in volleyballs first turnpike tussle of the season. Prior to the match, Emporia State will be holding a ceremony to dedicate the volleyball locker room in honor of former Hornet All-American Arica Shepard-Ahlvers.
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