Women's Volleyball | 10/5/2023 11:42:00 AM
Games 15-16
Emporia State Hornets (7-7, 1-5 MIAA)
at #22 Central Oklahoma Bronchos (14-3, 5-2 MIAA)
Friday, Oct. 6 • 6:00 p.m. • Hamilton Field House • Edmond, Okla.
Series Record: UCO leads 20-11 •
Last Meeting: UCO 3, ESU 0 (10/22/22)
at Pittsburg State Gorillas (6-9, 2-5 MIAA)
Saturday, Oct. 7 • 6:00 p.m. • John Lance Arena • Pittsburg, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 73-31 •
Last Meeting: PSU 3, ESU 1 (10/27/22)
Up Next: #19 Washburn
Tuesday, Oct. 10 • White Auditorium • Emporia, Kan.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Emporia State hits the road again as they are set to take on #22 Central Oklahoma and Pittsburg State.
LAST TIME OUT
The Hornets took on Northwest Missouri and Missouri Western from White Auditorium. Emporia State took the Bearcats to five sets before falling to Griffons in three sets.
THE COACHES
Ken Murczek is 7-7 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.
Edgar Miraku is 257-88 in his 13th season at UCO. He is 19-3 against the Hornets.
Jen Gomez is 88-124 in her first season at PSU. She is 7-5 against ESU.
SCOUTING THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 7-7 this season and 1-5 in the MIAA. The seven 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 seventh in the MIAA in hitting percentage. The Hornet attack is led by
Sandora Sasaki who has 204 kills with 4.16 kills per set. Sasaki's total of 204 kills leads the MIAA.
McKenya Sorrells also has nearly two kills per set with 80 total kills and 1.90 per set.
Brailee Bogle has made a strong impact in her first season with the Hornets as she has 442 assists with 9.02 assists per set which ranks sixth in the MIAA this season.
SCOUTING THE BRONCHOS
Central Oklahoma is ranked 22nd in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll and are 14-3 on the season and 5-2 in the MIAA which has the Bronchos currently in third place. The Bronchos are led in attack by Jenna Karp and Addison Wimmer who both average over three kills per set this season. At setter, Lindsey Houran is fourth in the MIAA with 9.62 kills per set. In defense, Jaedynn Evans leads the MIAA with 278 digs this season.
SERIES HISTORY
Central Oklahoma leads the all-time series against Emporia State 20-11.
SCOUTING THE GORILLAS
Pittsburg State is 6-9 this season and 2-5 in the MIAA. As a team, the Gorillas rank eighth in blocks per set and fifth in aces per set. In attack, Janae Thurston leads the way for Pittsburg State with 171 kills with an average of 3.17 kills per set. Setter Jadyn Jackson leads the Gorillas with 472 assists on the season which ranks sixth in the MIAA. Josie McCroskey leads the way in defense with 4.41 digs per set for sixth-best in the MIAA this season.
SERIES HISTORY
Emporia State leads the all-time series 73-31 over Pittsburg State.
UP NEXT
The Hornets will return to White Auditorium for a midweek matchup on Tuesday, October 10 as they will take on #19 Washburn in the home edition of the Turnpike Tussle. The match against the Ichabods will begin at 6:00 p.m. on October 10.
