Women's Volleyball | 10/29/2024 10:49:00 AM
Matches 21-22
Emporia State Hornets (14-6, 6-4 MIAA) vs. Northwest Missouri Bearcats (12-8, 6-4 MIAA)
Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 • 6:00 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • White Auditorium
Series History: MWSU leads 51-45 • Last Meeting: ESU 3, NWMSU 1 (9/28/23)
Emporia State Hornets (14-6, 6-4 MIAA) vs Missouri Western Griffons (18-4, 8-2 MIAA)
Thursday, Oct. 31 • 5:30 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • White Auditorium
Series History: ESU leads 44-25 • Last Meeting: MWSU 3, ESU 0 (9/27/23)
CRUCIAL STRETCH CONTINUES
The Hornets continue their home stand with matches against Northwest Missouri and Missouri Western, who are both currently top six with Emporia State in the MIAA. On Thursday against Missouri Western, all kids who arrive at White Auditorium wearing costumes will get in free for Halloween.
LAST TIME OUT
The Hornets hosted Washburn on Saturday from White Auditorium and went the distance against the Ichabods for the second time this season. After Washburn took the first two sets, Emporia State rallied back to take sets three and four and force a fifth set, but were unable to complete comeback as the Ichabods took the match in five. Weronika Wrzesinska had a match-high 19 kills and Mia Frisbie finished with two solo blocks and eight block assists.
ABOUT THE COACHES
Ken Murczek is in his second season at Emporia State and has a 27-22 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 looking for his second win against Northwest Missouri to complete the Hornets first season sweep of the Bearcats since 2011 and is 0-3 against the Griffons.
Amy Woerth is in her 13th season at Northwest Missouri and has a 212-144 record with the Bearcats.
Jessica fey is in her third season at Missouri Western and has a 40-13 record with the Griffons.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 14-6 this season and 6-4 in the MIAA as they are currently in fifth place in the conference standings. The Hornets are in sixth place in the first iteration of the KPI standings that came out on October 28, the ratings system which will determine the MIAA Tourament seeding. As a team, the Hornets are fifth in the MIAA in hitting percentage, third in assists, fourth in opponent kills and third in service aces. Rayishon Jackman and Weronika Wrzesinska are top two in the MIAA in both kills with 287 and 272, and in kills per set with averages of 3.81 and 3.63. Camilla Ossola has been strong in attack as well, averaging 2.89 kills per set while a team-high .283 hitting percentage. In the middle, McKenya Sorrells and Mia Frisbie have anchored the defense, as they both have double-digit solo blocks this season. Brailee Bogle has 776 assists on the season, averaging 10.35 per set and has been joined by Sydney Fiatte over the last three matches as they have combined to average 10.38 per set.
ABOUT THE BEARCATS
Northwest Missouri is 12-8 on the season with a 6-4 MIAA record. The Bearcats are slotted in sixth in the MIAA standings, and fourth in the first makeup of the KPI standings. Northwest Missouri showcases a balanced offensive attack, as four Bearcats have over 150 kills this season. Abby Brunssen has the team-high with 242 kills and is averaging 3.27 per set. At setter, Ella Caffery and Natalie Laiolo have combined to average just over 13 assists per set. Brunssen is also at the forefront of the Bearcat defense, with nine solo blocks and 72 block assists this season.
ABOUT THE GRIFFONS
Missouri Western is 18-4 this season and 8-2 in the MIAA, as they are currently third in the standings with a hold on second place in the KPI rankings. The Griffons rank within the top four of the MIAA in hitting percentage, assists, blocks and service aces. Holly Heldt and Taylor Russell both have over 200 kills this season and are averaging nearly three kills per set. Nessa Johnson runs the offense from the setter position, averaging just over 11 assists per set. On the defensive side, Lily Kurz has 16 solo blocks and 88 block assists as she ranks third in solos and leads the way in assists.Â
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.
