Road Trip Kicks Off MIAA Play for Emporia State Volleyball

Women's Volleyball | 9/25/2024 1:08:00 PM

Matches 11-12
Emporia State Hornets (8-2)
at Missouri Western Griffons (9-2)
Friday, Sep. 27 • 6:00 p.m. • St. Joseph, MO.
Series History: MWSU leads 50-45 • Last Meeting: MWSU 3, ESU 1 (10/27/23)

at Northwest Missouri Bearcats (6-4)
Saturday, Sep. 28 • 6:00 p.m. • Maryville, MO.
Series History: ESU leads 43-25 • Last Meeting: NWMSU 3, ESU 1 (10/28/23)

CONFERENCE KICKOFF
Emporia State begins MIAA action this weekend with a pair of matches on the road against Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri.

LAST TIME OUT
The Hornets traveled to Pittsburg for the PSU Regional Challenge and went 2-1 over the weekend. The Hornets fell in four sets to Illinois-Springfield before bouncing back with a win over Henderson State and a sweep against Missouri S&T. 

MIAA MADNESS
As the MIAA begins conference play, eight teams have a .600 winning percentage higher with three teams ranked in the top 25 and two more receiving votes, including the Hornets opponent on Friday, Missouri Western.

ABOUT THE COACHES
Ken Murczek is in his second season at Emporia State and has a 21-18 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. 
Jessica Fey is in her second season at Missouri Western and has a 30-11 record with the Griffons. She is 2-0 against the Hornets through one season.
Amy Woerth is in her 13th season at Northwest Missouri and has a 206-140 career record with the Bearcats. She is 14-4 in her career against the Hornets. 

ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 8-2 through non-conference action and are coming off a 2-1 performance last weekend at the PSU Regional Challenge. Brailee Bogle coordinates the attack for the Hornets from the setter position and has 404 assists through the first ten matches, an improvement of 39 assists through ten matches in 2023. Within the attack, Rayishon Jackman and Weronika Wrzesinska both have over 100 kills and and average 4.64 and 3.03 kills per set respectively. Zuzanna Buchnajzer and Camilla Ossola also average nearly three kills per set. Jackman ranks eighth in the nation with 4.64 kills per set and 12th with 167 total kills. Both marks also currently lead the MIAA. On the defensive side, the Hornets have recorded 14 more blocks than their opponents this season and are led by Mia Frisbie who has 37 blocks which ranks eighth in the MIAA while McKenya Sorrells also ranks in the top 20 with 30 blocks. In addition to her ability on the offensive side, Rayishon Jackman also leads the Hornets with 134 digs which is 14th in the MIAA. 

SCOUTING THE GRIFFONS
Missouri Western is 9-2 through the non-conference part of the season. As a team, the Griffons lead the MIAA in service aces while also ranking third in opponent hitting percentage and blocks per set. Three Giffons are averaging over 2.50 kills per set with Emily Loy holding an average of 2.67 to lead the way. Holly Heldt has 96 kills to lead the team through the first 11 matches. On defense, Lily Kurz ranks second in the MIAA in total blocks and has 1.41 blocks per set, which leads the way inthe conference. 

SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
Northwest Missouri enters the MIAA with a 6-4 record so far this season, but after a slow start at the Augustana Classic, the Bearcats have won five of their last six matches. The Bearcats are led on offense by a trio of attackers with 100 or more kills with Abby Brunssen leading the way with 125 kills. In addition to Brunssen, Olivia Dir and Payton Kirchhoefer have 109 and 100 kills this season and also averaging over three kills per set. Brunssen has also been a force on defense for Northwest Missouri, as she has 49 total blocks, the third-best total in the MIAA.