Turnpike Tussle Up Next for Emporia State Volleyball

Women's Volleyball | 10/7/2024 5:00:00 PM

Match 15
Emporia State Hornets (11-3, 3-1 MIAA)
AT (RV) Washburn Ichabods (11-3, 2-2 MIAA)
Tuesday, Oct. 8 • 6:00 p.m. • Topeka, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 64-48 • Last Meeting: WU 3, ESU 1 (11/6/23)

TURNPIKE TUSSLE ROUND 1
Emporia State travels north on I-35 for the first of two editions this season of the Turnpike Tussle. The Hornets and Ichabods are entering the midweek matchup with identical 11-3 records.

LAST TIME OUT
The Hornets hosted both Pittsburg State and Newman on homecoming weekend for their first two matches of the season from White Auditorium. Emporia State swept their way past the Gorillas in three sets, highlighted by 29 kills from Weronika Wrzesinska, the most in the nation in a three-set match this season. On Saturday, the Hornets swept the Jets with Wrzesinska tallying another 15 kills to lead the way. She was joined in double figures by Rayishon Jackman and Camilla Ossola who had 13 and 12 kills of their own. Through the two matches, Brailee Bogle had 79 assists, with 40 coming against the Gorillas. The 40 assists against Pittsburg State was her third time this season with 40 or more in a three-set match. The performances from Bogle and Wrzesinska earned them both MIAA Athlete of the Week honors.

MIAA MADNESS
As conference play has started, the MIAA has two teams ranked in the top 15 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. 

ABOUT THE COACHES
Ken Murczek is in his second season at Emporia State and has a 24-19 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. 
Chris Herron is in his 23rd season as the head coach at Washburn and holds a 614-135 record in his tenure with the Ichabods. 

ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 11-3 through their first 14 matches with a 3-1 record in MIAA action. The Hornets are coming off a pair of sweeps on homecoming weekend against Pittsburg State and Newman. Brailee Bogle and Weronika Wrzesinska highlighted the pair of matches as Bogle tallied 79 assists and Wrzesinska recorded 44 kills on .414 hitting as they were both named MIAA Athletes of the Week. Wrzesinska had 29 kills in the win over the Gorillas, the most in the nation this season in a three-set match. Rayishon Jackman has also been a focal point in the Hornet attack, as she has 216 kills and is averaging 4.41 per set, which both lead the MIAA this season. Camilla Ossola and McKenya Sorrells have also played big parts for the Hornets, as Ossola is hitting .290 on the season and averaging 2.71 kills per set. Sorrells has 40 total blocks and is hitting .247 in the middle.

SCOUTING THE ICHABODS
Washburn is 11-3 this season and have split their first four MIAA matches, going 2-2. The Ichabods are third in the MIAA in both hitting percentage and opponent hitting percentage. Five different players have over 100 kills on the season for Washburn, with senior Jalyn Stevenson leading the way with 153 kills and a 2.94 kills per set average. Brynne Topolski and Austin Broadie are averaging 2.35 and 2.31 kills per set respectively. At setter Corinna McMullen and Sydney Conner combined for 10.85 assist per set on the season. The Ichabod defense is highlighted by Alex Dvorak and Bella Limback who rank in the top ten in the MIAA in blocks. Dvorak has 68 on the season, including ten solo blocks.