Women's Volleyball | 10/16/2024 10:46:00 AM
Matches 18-19
Emporia State Hornets (12-5, 4-3 MIAA)
at Central Missouri Jennies (7-9, 3-4 MIAA)
Friday, Oct. 18, 2024 • 6:00 p.m. • Warrensburg, Mo. • Jerry Hughes Athletic Center
Series History: UCM leads 62-6 • Last Meeting: UCM 3, ESU 0 (11/16/23)
at Missouri Southern Lions (3-15, 1-6 MIAA)
Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024 • 3:00 p.m. • Joplin, Mo. • Leggett & Platte Athletic Center
Series History: ESU leads 52-34 • Last Meeting: ESU 3, MSSU 0 (10/20/23)
SHOW ME STATE ROAD TRIP Â
The five-match road trip for the Hornets continues with matches against Central Missouri and Missouri Southern.
LAST TIME OUT
The Hornets hit the road for matches against #3 Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Hays State last weekend. Emporia State struggled offensively against the third-ranked Lopers and fell in three sets. On Saturday, the Hornets rebounded and held off Fort Hays State in five sets. Emporia State had three players tally double-digit kills, including Camilla Ossola who hit .500 with 18 kills against the Tigers, matching her career-high she set earlier in the week against Washburn. Also against the Tigers, Brailee Bogle set a new career-high with 57 assists.
ABOUT THE COACHES
Ken Murczek is in his second season at Emporia State and has a 25-21 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 0-3 against the Jennies and 2-0 against the Lions.
Caitlin Peterson is in her third season at Central Missouri and has a 51-28 record with the Jennies. She is 5-0 against the Hornets.
Kalie Carlile is in her seventh year at Missouri Southern and has a 58-128 record with the Lions. She is 5-4 against the Hornets.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 12-5 this season and 4-3 in the MIAA with their three conference losses coming against teams ranked or receiving votes in the AVCA Coaches Poll. The Hornets rank top five in the MIAA in hitting percentage, kills, assists, and opponent kills this season. Emporia State's attack is highlighted by Rayishon Jackman and Weronika Wrzesinska as they rank first and third respectively in the MIAA in total kills this season. They are also the top two in kills per set. Jackman and Wrzesinska have both earned MIAA player of the week honors this season. Coordinating the attack for the Hornets has been Brailee Bogle, who ranks fourth in both total assists and assists per set this season. She has tallied 40 or more assists in a three-set match three times this season and set a new career-high with 57 in the last match against Fort Hays State. McKenya Sorrells and Mia Frisbie bring a presence on defense as they 11th and 12th in the MIAA in total blocks while Sorrells is sixth in solo blocks.
ABOUT THE JENNIES
Central Missouri is 7-9 this season and 3-4 in the MIAA with four of their losses this season coming against teams ranked in the top 13. The Jennies rank in the top half of the MIAA in assists and opponent kills, in part due to the play of Kayla Baer who is second in the MIAA in assists per set at 11.38. The attack is highlighted by Elinor Engel who is fifth in the MIAA in kills with 210 this season. Maya Ferguson also ranks tenth in the conference with 188 kills. On the defensive side, Rachel Ziesman is sixth in the MIAA in total blocks and averages more than one block per set.
ABOUT THE LIONS
Missouri Southern is 3-15 this season and 1-6 in the MIAA. The Lions made the MIAA Tournament for the first time in a non-covid season since 2019 last season and are in their seventh season under the coaching of Kalie Carlile. Missouri Southern ranks fourth in the MIAA in opponent blocks and second in digs. Kyla Randall has played a part in the defensive abilities of the Lions, as she leads the MIAA with 401 digs on the season. Four Lions have over 100 kills this season, with Amelia Neels and Alana Moesch leading the way with 166 and 159 respectively while also averaging around 2.50 per set.
CENTRAL REGION RECOGNITION
The MIAA and the central region feature a number of teams in the AVCA Coaches Poll with the MIAA having two teams in the top 13 with two more receiving votes in the latest poll. As a region, eight teams are ranked in the top 25, the most of any region in the country. A member of the central region has advanced to the national championship match in three of the last four full seasons.
