Emporia State Hornets (5-7, 0-0 MIAA)
vs. #1 Nebraska Kearney (12-0, 0-0 MIAA) •
Live Stats
Friday, Sept. 14 • 6:00 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • White Auditorium
Series Record: UNK Leads 38-10 Last Meeting: UNK 3, ESU 0 (Nov. 14, 2017)
vs. Fort Hays State (6-6, 0-0 MIAA) •
Live Stats
Saturday, Sept. 15 • 3:00 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • White Auditorium
Series Record: ESU leads 57-29 Last Meeting: ESU 3, FHSU 0 (Oct. 29, 2017)
Up Next: at Washburn
Tuesday, Sept. 18 • Topeka, Kan. • Lee Arena
OPENING AT HOME
Emporia State opens MIAA conference play at home in Emporia, Kan. The Hornets face #1 ranked Nebraska Kearney on Friday before taking on Fort Hays State on Saturday.
THE COACHES
Bing Xu is in his 14th year as head coach for Emporia State. He holds a record of 272-158 and has led the Hornets to five NCAA Tournament appearances.
Rick Squiers is in his 20th year as head coach at Nebraska Kearney.
Jessica Wood-Adkins is in her first season as head coach at Fort Hays State.
LAST TIME OUT
Emporia State went 3-1 at the MIAA/GAC Challenge in Oklahoma. The Hornets defeated East Central in straight sets (25-14, 25-9, 25-13) before taking on Oklahoma Baptist. The Bison took the Hornets to five sets but the Hornets took the 3-2 win (25-17, 25-20, 22-25, 21-25, 20-18). On day two of the tournament, the Hornets fell in straight sets to Arkansas Tech. (25-19, 25-21, 25-21) before sweeping Southeastern Oklahoma State (25-19, 25-18, 25-22) to wrap up the tournament.
SCOUTING THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 5-7 to start the season. The Hornets are led by senior Tatum Graves with 148 kills and 43 total blocks on the season including eight solo and 35 assists. Jamie Hauptman joins Graves in triple digit kills with 107 followed by Yuchen Du with 102. Emma Dixon leads the Hornets with 269 assists followed by Du with 142. Allie Maloney leads the Hornets with 205 digs while Julia Joseph adds 123 and Taylor Otting adds 122.
ABOUT #1 NEBRASKA KEARNEY
Nebraska Kearney is 12-0 on the season and ranked #1 in the NCAA AVCA coaches poll. The Lopers are led by Julianne Jackson with 88 kills followed closely by MK Wolfe with 84 and Anna Squiers with 83. Lindsey Smith has 440 assist for the Lopers while Ellie McDonnell leads with 204 digs. Mackenzie Puckett leads the Lopers with 32 total blocks followed by Squiers with 30.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE LOPERS
Emporia State volleyball fell in straight sets to top seeded Nebraska Kearney in the first round of the MIAA Tournament. The Lopers lead the all-time series 38-10 over the Hornets.
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ABOUT FORT HAYS STATE
Fort Hays State is 6-6 to start the season. The Tigers are led by Isabelle Reynolds with 122 kills followed by Azlyn Cassaday with 91. Breann Becker leads the Tigers with 287 assists while Abbie Hayes leads with 190 digs.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE TIGERS
Emporia State volleyball won in straight sets over Fort Hays State. The match saw 26 ties and 17 lead changes but the Hornets fought through to finish their 2017 home season with a sweep of the Tigers. The Hornets were led by Karly Patton with 13 kills followed by Jordan Evans and Jamie Hauptman with 11 each. The Hornets lead the all-time series 57-29 over the Tigers.
NEXT SERVE
The Hornets travel to Topeka, Kan. to take on Washburn in the first Turnpike Tussle of the 2018 season.
