Women's Volleyball | 9/28/2023 10:35:00 AM
Games 13-14
Emporia State Hornets (7-5, 1-3 MIAA)
vs. Northwest Missouri Bearcats (7-5, 2-2 MIAA)
Friday, Sept. 29 • 7:00 p.m. • White Auditorium • Emporia, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 43-23 •
Last Meeting: NWMSU 3, ESU 1 (10/15/22)
vs. Missouri Western Griffonss (9-4, 2-2 MIAA)
Saturday, Sept. 30 • 3:00 p.m. • White Auditorium • Emporia, Kan.
Series Record: MWSU leads 48-45 •
Last Meeting: MWSU 3, ESU 1 (11/4/22)
Up Next: (RV) Northwest Missouri
Friday, Oct. 6 • White Auditorium • Emporia, Kan.
BACK HOME
Emporia State returns to White Auditorium for a pair of MIAA matches against Northwest Missouri and Missouri Western.
LAST TIME OUT
The Hornets traveled to Central Missouri and Missouri Southern for MIAA matches against the Jennies and Lions. Emporia State fell to UCM 3-1 before dropping their match against the Lions 3-0.
THE COACHES
Ken Murczek is 7-5 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.
Amy Woerth is 192-127 in her second season at UCM. She is 12-4 against the Hornets.
Jessica Fey is 9-4 in her first season at MWSU. This is her first meeting against ESU.
SCOUTING THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 7-5 through the first ten matches of the season and 1-3 in the MIAA. The seven wins for Emporia State are the most in a season since 2018 as they look to keep the momentum going. The Hornet attack is led by
Sandora Sasaki who has 142 kills with 4.18 kills per set. Sasaki's total of 162 kills leads the MIAA.
McKenya Sorrells also has over two kills per set with 63 total kills and 2.03 per set.
Brailee Bogle has made a strong impact in her first season with the Hornets as she has 352 assists with 9.26 assists per set which ranks in the top five in the MIAA.
SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
Northwest Missouri is receiving votes in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll and are 7-5 on the season and 2-2 in the MIAA. The Bearcats are led in attack by Abby Brunssen and Avery Kemp who both have over 100 kills, which both rank inside the top ten in the MIAA. At setter, Ella Caffery has 349 assists and 8.73 assists per set, which ranks eighth. In defense, Kyah Luhring has 220 digs at 4.68 per set which ranks third in the MIAA.
SERIES HISTORY
Emporia State leads the all-time series 43-23 over Northwest Missouri.
SCOUTING THE GRIFFONS
Missouri Western is 9-4 on the season and 2-2 in the MIAA after winning just 11 games last season. As a team, the Griffons are allowing the second-lowest opponent hitting percentage on the season and rank seventh in the MIAA in kills per set. The attack is led by four different Griffons with 100 or more kills on the season with Holly Heldt leading the way with 124 kills. At setter, Nessa Johnson has 446 kills and 10.14 assists per set which ranks second in the MIAA.
SERIES HISTORY
Missouri Western leads the all-time series 48-45 over Emporia State.
UP NEXT
The Hornets will travel south on I-35 for a road match against #20 Central Oklahoma from Edmond on Friday, October 6. Following the match against the Bronchos, Emporia State will travel to Pittsburg to take on Pittsburg State on Saturday, October 7.
