Women's Volleyball | 10/9/2025 11:00:00 AM
Matches 17-18
(RV) Emporia State Hornets (13-3, 4-1 MIAA)
vs. #2 Nebraska-Kearney Lopers (18-0, 5-0 MIAA)
Friday, October 10 • 6:00 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • White Auditorium
Series History: UNK leads 50-10 •
Last Meeting: UNK 3, at ESU 0 (11/9/24)
vs. Fort Hays State Tigers (13-4, 2-3 MIAA)
Saturday, October 11 • 7:00 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • White Auditorium
Series History: ESU leads 56-32 •
Last Meeting: at ESU 3, FHSU 1 (11/8/24)
Complete Notes in pdf •
The MIAA Network •
Live Stats
HOME STAND CONTINUES
Emporia State volleyball moves forward on their five-match home stand as they host #2 Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Hays State this weekend.
LAST TIME OUT
The Hornets hosted Washburn in the Turnpike Tussle on Tuesday nigh from White Auditorium. Emporia State struggled offensively throughout the match, but nearly rallied back in set one, before falling 25-22. Sets two and three were more of the same as the Hornets were unable to find consistency against the Ichabod defense, as Washburn took the match in three. The Hornets hit just .056, which was their lowest mark this season in attack. Camilla Ossola and Lavra Krizanic both had seven kills to lead Emporia State.
TOP TEN TESTS CONTINUE
Emporia State volleyball plays host to #2 Nebraska-Kearney on Friday, followed by Fort Hays State on Saturday night.
ABOUT THE COACHES
Ken Murczek is in his third season at Emporia State and has a 43-29 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.
Rick Squiers is 806-111 in his 27th season as the head coach for the Lopers. Squiers has led Nebraska-Kearney to a pair of national runner-up finishes and has made the NCAA Tournament each season since 2000.
Jessica Wood-Atkins is 75-113 in her eighth season at Fort Hays State. The Tigers' 13 wins this season matches the most in a season since Wood-Atkins took over in 2018.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State has opened the season 13-3, which included winning 13 consecutive matches leading up the Turnpike Tussle with Washburn during the week. The Hornets have deployed a balanced offensive attack so far this season, as five players are averaging 1.91 kills per set or more. Nyia Anderson leads the way with 155 kills and is averaging 2.96 kills per set. Lavra Krizanic is next with 2.35 kills per set. Camilla Ossola has the highest hitting percentage among outside hitters at .223 and she earned MIAA Athlete of the Week honors after her performances against Northwest Missouri and Missouri Western to open MIAA action. She was joined in recognition by Mia Frisbie, who has excelled in the middle this season. Frisbie has nine solo blocks and 44 block assists. Brooklynn Weaver, Lavra Krizanic, Emma Klett and Delainee Dexter have also made sizable impacts in the attack. Dexter has also been instrumental in the Hornets deploying a 6-2 rotation along with junior setter Brailee Bogle. Bogle and Dexter are combining for 10.34 assists per set this season.
SCOUTING THE LOPERS
Nebraska-Kearney has opened the 2025 season 18-0, all but securing their 32nd straight winning season as a program. The Lopers are currently one of three teams in nation that remain unbeaten. They also rank top five in the nation in multiple categories, including hitting percentage, kills per set and assists per set. Carly Purdy and Emilee Lane lead the Loper attack, as they average 3.61 and 3.36 kills per set respectively. In addition to Purdy and Lane, Brynn Stowell has 138 kills of her own with a hitting percentage of .357 which is fifth in the MIAA. Peyton Neff runs dictates the UNK offense at the setter position, as she averages 11.14 assists per set. Neff has averaged north of 11 assists per set since 2022, and has more than 4,000 assists in her career. She is a two-time All-American, which includes First Team honors in 2024.Â
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Fort Hays State is 13-4 this season, which tied for the most wins by the Tigers in the eight seasons under Jessica Wood-Atkins. The Tigers rank in the top half of the MIAA in digs, kills and hitting percentage on the season. Three different players are averaging more than two kills per set for the Tigers this season, with Ashlyn Reeves and Gracie Rains leading the way with 2.58 and 2.53 averages. Reeves has also been extremely efficient, posting a .317 hitting percentage.Â
