Women's Volleyball | 10/23/2023 8:29:00 PM
Game 22
Emporia State Hornets (11-10, 5-8 MIAA)
at #10 Nebraska-Kearney Lopers (21-3, 11-3 MIAA)
Tuesday, Oct. 24 • 6:00 p.m. • Health & Sports Center • Kearney, Neb.
Series Record: UNK 47-10 •
Last Meeting: UNK 3, ESU 0 (9/16/23)
Up Next: at Missouri Western
Friday, Oct. 27
TOP TEN TUESDAY
Emporia State travels to Nebraska-Kearney to take on the #10 Lopers.
LAST TIME OUT
The Hornets took on Missouri Southern and Central Missouri from White Auditorium. Emporia State took down the Lions in three sets before falling to the Jennies in five sets.
THE COACHES
Ken Murczek is 11-10 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.
Rick Squiers is 750-105 in his 25th season at UNK. He is 26-0 against the Hornets.
SCOUTING THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 11-10 this season and 5-0 in the MIAA. 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 348 kills with 4.64 kills per set. Sasaki is coming off her third 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 135 total kills and 1.99 per set.
Brailee Bogle has made a strong impact in her first season with the Hornets as she has 701 assists with 9.35 assists per set which ranks fifth in the MIAA this season.
SCOUTING THE LOPERS
Nebraska-Kearney is currently ranked #10 in the latest AVCA poll. The Lopers are 21-3 overall and 11-3 in the MIAA. As a team, Nebraska-Kearney ranks third or better in the MIAA in most categories including kills, assists and blocks. Jaden Ferguson and Emersen Cyza lead the Lopers attack 222 and 208 kills respectively. Asha Regier, Mia Berg and Emilee Lane each have more than 100 kills on the season. At setter, Peyton Neff ranks first in assists per set and second in total assists with 890 and a 11.27 average. The Lopers also have a strong presence at the net on defense as four players have more than 40 total blocks on the season.
LAST TIME VS. NEBRASKA-KEARNEY
In just the second MIAA match of the season, Emporia State hosted Nebraska-Kearney and fell in three sets.
Sandora Sasaki led all players with 15 kills in the match.
SERIES HISTORY
Nebraska-Kearney leads the all-time series 47-10 over Emporia State.
UP NEXT
Following the top ten midweek matchup with Nebraska-Kearney, the Hornets wil continue the roadtrip into the weekend as they travel to take on both Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri. The match against Missouri Western on Friday, October 27 is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
