Women's Volleyball | 10/10/2024 1:16:00 PM
Matches 16-17
Emporia State Hornets (11-4, 3-2 MIAA)
at Nebraska-Kearney Lopers (17-0, 5-0 MIAA)
Friday, October 11 • 6:00 p.m. • Kearney, Neb.
Series History: UNK leads 48-10 • Last Meeting: UNK 3, ESU 1 (10/24/23)
at Fort Hays State Tigers (9-5, 1-4 MIAA)
Saturday, October 12 • 2:00 p.m. • Hays, Kan.
Series History: ESU leads 54-32 • Last Meeting: ESU 3, FHSU 1 (10/17/23)
ROAD TRIP OUT WEST Â
Emporia State continues their road swing for matches against #3 Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Hays State.
LAST TIME OUT
The Hornets traveled north on the Turnpike for a tussle against the Ichabods that went five sets. Emporia State took the first and third set while Washburn grabbed the second and fourth frames. In the fifth, Emporia State rallied from a 10-7 deficit to take a 12-11 lead. The Ichabods were able to rally again to take the fifth set 15-13 as the Hornets came up just short on Tuesday night. Weronika Wrzesinska had 27 kills while Camilla Ossola had a career-high 18 kills of her own. Brailee Bogle set a new career-high with 54 assists and Sydney Fiatte had a career-high 28 digs.
MIAA MADNESS
As conference play has started, the MIAA has two teams ranked in the top 11 in the nation with three more teams receiving votes in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll. The Hornets made the MIAA tournament last season for the first time since 2018, but were picked ninth in the MIAA Preseason Poll, as all eight times slated in the top eight finished the 2023 season with a winning record.Â
ABOUT THE COACHES
Ken Murczek is in his second season at Emporia State and has a 24-20 record. In his first season at the helm, the Hornets improved their overall win total by nine games and conference win total by six games as they made a trip to the MIAA Tournament. He is 0-2 against the Lopers and 2-0 against the Tigers.
Rick Squiers is in his 26th season at Nebraska-Kearney and has a 775-109 record with the Lopers. He is 27-0 against the Hornets.
Jessica Wood-Atkins is in her seventh season at Fort Hays State and has 59-100 record with the Tigers. She is 4-6 against the Hornets.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 11-4 this season with a 3-2 record in the MIAA, with both conference losses coming against teams currently receiving votes in the AVCA Coaches Poll. The Hornets rank in the top five in the MIAA in hitting percentage, opponent assists, assists, and opponent kills through their first 15 matches. The attack is led by Rayishon Jackman and Weronika Wrzesinska who have 226 and 199 kills respectively as Jackman leads the MIAA and Wrzesinska ranks third. Against Pittsburg State last week, Wrzesinska recorded 29 kills in the sweep over the Gorillas, the most in a three-set match in Division II since 2019. Brailee Bogle leads the attack and has 610 assists with an average of 11.30 per set, the third-best mark in the MIAA. On defense, Mia Frisbie and McKenya Sorrells each have 48 total blocks on the season, with Sorrells' nine solo blocks tied for the fifth-most in the MIAA.
SCOUTING THE LOPERS
Nebraska-Kearney is 17-0 this season and 5-0 in the MIAA while holding the #3 rank in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll. Across their 17 matches this season, the Lopers have only gone to four sets on three occasions, including each of the last two. The Lopers lead the MIAA in kills, assists, and opponent hitting percentage. Nebraska-Kearney is led in attack by Mia Berg, Asha Regier and Emilee Lane who all have over 120 kills this season. Coordinating the attack is Peyton Neff, who is averaging 12.39 assist per set, the highest mark in the MIAA. She also ranks second on the Lopers behind Berg in blocks with 31 while Berg has a team-high 52 total blocks this season.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Fort Hays State enters the weekend with a 9-5 overall record but are just 1-4 in the MIAA. The Tigers have opened their conferene play with a tough slate after going 8-1 in non-conference action to begin the year. Fort Hays State ranks in the top half of the MIAA in service aces, opponent digs and blocks. The attack for the Tigers is led by Gracie Rains who is averaging 3.74 kills per set and has 217 overall, the second most in the MIAA. Grace Schmedding, Ashlyn Reeves, and Claire Olson also have over 100 kills on the season. A strong point for the Tigers is their defensive presence at the net as Taytum Lovesee and Ashlyn Reeves have 62 and 56 blocks respectively this season. Reeves' 15 solo blocks currently lead the MIAA this season.
