Women's Volleyball | 10/16/2023 4:35:00 PM
Game 19
Emporia State Hornets (9-9, 3-7 MIAA)
at Fort Hays State Tigers (8-12, 2-9 MIAA)
Tuesday, Oct. 17 • 6:00 p.m. • Hays, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 53-32 •
Last Meeting: ESU 3, FHSU 0 (9/15/23)
Up Next: vs. Missouri Southern
Friday, Oct. 20 • White Auditorium • Emporia, Kan.
MIDWEEK MATCHUP
Emporia State will travel to Hays, Kan. for a midweek matchup against Fort Hays State.
LAST TIME OUT
The Hornets took down Newman in straight sets 3-0 behind 18 kills from
Sandora Sasaki from White Auditorium.
THE COACHES
Ken Murczek is 9-9 in his first season at ESU. Murczek is coming off great success at NAIA Oregon Tech where he brought the Owls to their first National Tournament in school history. Murczek is no stranger to the big stage, as he has coached at the NCAA I level, with head coaching tenures at Wake Forest and North Texas, along with multiple assistant positions including the University of Kansas.
Jessica Wood-Atkins is 47-89 in her sixth season at FHSU. He is 4-5 against the Hornets.
SCOUTING THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 9-9 this season and 3-7 in the MIAA. The nine wins for Emporia State are the most in a season since 2018 as they look to increase that total. As a team, Emporia State ranks sixth in the MIAA in hitting percentage. and seventh in total kills and blocks this season. The Hornet attack is led by
Sandora Sasaki who has 278 kills with 4.41 kills per set. Sasaki is coming off her second MIAA Offensive Athlete of the Week honor and leads the MIAA in both kills and kills per set.
McKenya Sorrells also has nearly two kills per set with 110 total kills and 1.96 per set.
Brailee Bogle has made a strong impact in her first season with the Hornets as she has 578 assists with 9.17 assists per set which ranks fifth in the MIAA this season.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Fort Hays State is 8-12 on the season and 2-9 in the MIAA this season. The Tigers are coming off of a five-set win over Central Missouri in their last match. The attack for the Tigers is led by Gracie Rains who has a team-high 213 kills and 3.00 kills per set mark. Riley Tinder and Emily Ellis also average over 2.00 kills per set while Ellis has a team-high .234 hitting percentage on the season. At setter, Caiya Stucky has 643 assists with an average of 8.81, which is seventh in the MIAA. In defense, Brooke Hyland is fourth in the MIAA with a team-high 297 digs on the year.
SERIES HISTORY
Emporia State leads the all-time series 53-32 over Fort Hays State.
LAST TIME VS. THE TIGERS
Emporia State hosted Fort Hays State from White Auditorium on Sep. 15 to begin MIAA action as the Hornets took down the Tigers 3-0. In the match, Emporia State hit a season-high .333 in attack as
Sandora Sasaki,
McKenya Sorrells and
Maureen Mathews each tallied double-digit kills.
UP NEXT
Following their midweek road trip, the Hornets will return to White Auditorium for the second consecutive weekend as they host Missouri Southern and Central Missouri. First serve against the Lions to open the weekend is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 20.
