Women's Volleyball | 10/23/2025 11:00:00 AM
Match 21
#25 Emporia State Hornets (17-3, 8-1 MIAA)
at #2 Washburn Ichabods (19-1, 8-1 MIAA)
Friday, October 24 • 6:00 p.m. • Topeka, Kan. • Whiting Fieldhouse
Series History: ESU 64-51 •
Last Meeting: WU 3, at ESU 0 (10/26/24)
The MIAA Network •
Live Stats •
Complete Notes in pdf
TUSSLE ROUND 2
Emporia State begins a five-match road trip with a visit to Whiting Fieldhouse in Topeka on Friday night. The matchup between the Hornets and Ichabods is the first ranked matchup in the Turnpike Tussle since November 12, 2010.
LAST MATCH VS. THE ICHABODS
On October 7, the Hornets hosted then #9 Washburn from White Auditorium, but struggled to gain a foothold in the match, falling in three sets.
LAST TIME OUT
The Hornets completed their fourth weekend sweep of the MIAA slate, picking up a win over #24 Central Missouri and Missouri Southern to cap off their five-match home stand. Against the Jennies, the Hornets dropped set one but eventually took a 2-1 lead. After UCM forced a decisive fifth frame, the Hornets prevailed with 15-10 set five win to seal the 3-2 win, their third win over a ranked opponent this season. Emporia State closed out the home stand with a three-set sweep over Missouri Southern, where the Hornets held the Lions to just .106 hitting and were led by Lavra Krizanic who tallied 14 kills.
ROUND 2 IN TOPEKA
Emporia State volleyball travels north on I-35 to take on #2 Washburn on Friday for the second edition of the Turnpike Tussle. The matchup between the Hornets and Ichabods also has importance at the top of the MIAA standings.
ABOUT THE COACHES
Ken Murczek is in his third season at Emporia State and has a 47-29 record through the first two years. Prior to Murczek's arrival in 2023, the Hornets last made a trip to the MIAA Tournament in 2018, and have made the trip in each of the first two seasons in his tenure.
Chris Herron is 643-141 in his 24th season in Topeka and has six MIAA championships and 18 trips to the NCAA Tournament with the Ichabods.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 17-3 on the season, while currently being tied with Washburn atop the MIAA standings with an 8-1 record in conference play. In the latest AVCA Coaches Poll, the Hornets finally broke through and are ranked #25 in the nation. The ranking marks the first time that Emporia State has been ranked since week four of the 2011 season. As a team, the Hornets ranked inside the top half of the MIAA in most statistical categories, including fourth in opponent hitting percentage, blocks and service aces, and fifth in hitting percentage. The Hornets are led in attack by Nyia Anderson, who has 209 kills and is averaging 3.07 per set. Lavra Krizanic has been crucial on the pin lately, notching double-digit kills in four of her last six matches, while also recording double-doubles in three of those four matches. In the middle, Mia Frisbie and Brooklyn Weaver have the two highest hitting percentages on the team, while also having 74 and 77 total blocks respectively on the season. At setter, Brailee Bogle and Delainee Dexter have coordinated the 6-2 offense for the Hornets, combined for 10.58 assists per set on the season.
SCOUTING THE ICHABODS
Washburn is 19-1 this season, and 8-1 in the MIAA as they have climbed to #2 in the AVCA Poll over the last two weeks. The Ichabods are among the nations best attacking teams, leading the nation with a .306 hitting percentage, ranking second in assists per set and third in kills per set. Bella Limback and Alex Dvorak have greatly contributed to their nation's best hitting percentage, with the two ranking first and third in the country respectively in hitting percentage. Limback is hitting .547 and Dvorak is posting a .459 percentage this season. In addition to Limback and Dvorak's efficiency, Austin Broadie has a team-high 223 while hitting .361 on her own. Corinna McMullen and Sydney Conner have coordinated a similar 6-2 rotation for the Ichabods, and the two seniors have combined for 11.60 assists per set.
FIRST IN 14 YEARS
Emporia State is ranked #25 in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll, marking the first time since 2011 that the Hornets have been nationally ranked. In addition to the Hornets making the top 25, it will also mark the first nationally ranked matchup in the Turnpike Tussle since the 2010 season when both meetings saw the Hornets and Ichabods ranked, and both meetings went to five sets.
