Women's Volleyball | 10/9/2023 4:34:00 PM
Game 17
Emporia State Hornets (8-8, 2-6 MIAA)
vs. #20 Washburn Ichabods (11-4, 5-3 MIAA)
Tuesday, Oct. 10 • 6:00 p.m. • White Auditorium • Emporia, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 64-46 •
Last Meeting: WU 3, ESU 0 (10/18/22)
Up Next: Newman
Saturday, Oct. 14 • White Auditorium • Emporia, Kan.
TIME TO TUSSLE
Emporia State returns to White Auditorium as they take on #20 Washburn on Tuesday night as the Hornets host the Turnpike Tussle.
LAST TIME OUT
The Hornets took #22 Central Oklahoma to five sets before bouncing back with a 3-0 win over Pittsburg State on Saturday night.
THE COACHES
Ken Murczek is 8-8 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.
Chris Herron is 597-125 in his 22nd season at WU. He is 33-10 against the Hornets.
SCOUTING THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 8-8 this season and 2-6 in the MIAA. The eight 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 245 kills with 4.30 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 98 total kills and 1.96 per set.
Brailee Bogle has made a strong impact in her first season with the Hornets as she has 525 assists with 9.21 assists per set which ranks fifth in the MIAA this season.
SCOUTING THE ICHABODS
Washburn is currently ranked #20 in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll and holds an 11-4 record with a 5-3 record in the MIAA. The Ichabods are coming off a MIAA Tournament Championship and NCAA Central Region Tournament appearance in the 2022 campaign. As a team, Washburn ranks within the top three of the MIAA in kills per set, assists per set, hitting percentage, and opponent kills per set. The Ichabods are led in attack by Jalyn Stevenson who averages 3.15 kills per set, which ranks sixth in the MIAA. Rachel Schwensen, Rylee Unruh and Austin Broadie all have recorded over 100 kills on the season. Sophomore setters Corinna McMullen and Sydney Conner have combined for 588 assists and 10.89 assists per set.
SERIES HISTORY
Emporia State leads the all-time series 64-46 over Washburn.
LAST TIME VS. THE ICHABODS
Emporia State traveled to Topeka, Kan. in mid-October for the Topeka edition of the Turnpike Tussle. Despite a second set where the Hornets hit .424 against the #12 Ichabods, Emporia State fell in three sets against Washburn.
UP NEXT
The Hornets will remain home for Saturday night matchup against Newman on October 14 from White Auditorium. Emporia State will look for their first win against the Jets since taking both matchups over Newman during the 2019 season.
