Women's Volleyball | 11/19/2025 3:00:00 PM
November 19, 2025-The volleyball season is still going on but Emporia State coach
Ken Murczek already has his first recruits for the 2026 season signed. Piper Bahr, Kyndal Moore, Carlie Martin, Taylin Stallbaumer, Miyu Tsurumaki, Jade Xu and Aubrey Harrington will be attending Emporia State next year and playing volleyball for the Hornets. Six of the seven will enroll at Emporia State for the spring semester.
"The seven players that are joining us in the 2026 will move the needle for the program in every facet," said Murczek. "I'm incredibly excited to have six players joining us this spring to increase the competition in our gym"
Piper Bahr | 5-10 | Outside Hitter | Lee's Summit, Mo. | Lee's Summit North HS
Bahr is a 5-10 outside hitter from Lee's Summit, Mo. She is the career and single season kills leader for Lee's Summit North HS with 515 kills as a senior and 1,226 in her career. She is a three-time All-Conference performer. She will graduate high school early and enroll at Emporia State in January of 2026.
Murczek on Bahr
Piper is an experienced 6 rotation outside hitter with a powerful arm swing that can overwhelm teams with the speed she can put on the ball.
Aubrey Harrington | 5-11 | Setter | Parker, Colo. | Lutheran HS
Aubrey is a 5-11 setter from Parker, Colo. She is a two-time All-4A Pikes Peak League performer for Lutheran HS and led the Lions to the Colorado Class 4A State Championship match. She is a member of the CCGS All-State Team. She will enroll at Emporia State in the fall of 2026.
Murczek on Harrington
Aubrey is a left-handed setter/hitter with size and experience. She will have the potential to be a dual threat player both hitting and setting for the Hornets.
Carlie Martin | 5-9 | Libero | Meade, Kan. | Meade HS/Johnson County CC
Martin is a 5-9 libero from Meade, Kan. She averaged 4.50 digs per set as a sophomore at Johnson County CC and finished her two year career with 1,124 digs. She was a three time KJCCC D-II Defensive Player of the Week and was once named NJCAA National Defensive Player of the Week. She was a four-time All-SPIAA performer for Meade HS and accumulated 847 kills, 1,182 digs and 179 aces in her career. She will transfer to Emporia State from JCCC in January.
Murczek on Martin
Carlie is an experienced libero from one of the top D-II NJCAA teams in the country. Good athlete with strong passing and defensive skills.
Kyndal Moore | 6-1 | Middle Blocker | Ellinwood, Kan. | Ellinwod HS
Moore is a 6-1 middle blocker from Ellinwood, Kan. She is a three time all-Central Prairie League performer and two time Class 2A all-State selection who led Ellinwood to a perfect 47-0 record and KSHSAA Class 2A state championship this season. She will graduate high school early and enroll at Emporia State in January of 2026.
Murczek on Moore
Kyndal is a versatile hitter that can hit anywhere along the net. That versatility will allow her to compete for playing time early. She has very good attacking mechanics and a good feel for the game.
Taylin Stallbaumer | 5-7 | Libero | Topeka, Kan. | Seaman HS/Johnson County CC/Butler CC
Stallbaumer is a 5-7 libero from Topeka, Kan. She spent last season at Butler CC and averaged 3.06 digs per set as a sophomore. She played setter her freshman year at Johnson County CC and had 1,004 assists to rank 23
rd in the nation in NJCAA Division II. She was a four-time All-United Kansas Conference performer for Seaman HS and finished her high school career with 1,394 assists, 873 digs, 663 kill, 135 aces and 90 blocks. She will enroll at Emporia State in January.
Murczek on Stallbaumer
Taylion brings dual skill experience at the collegiate level after playing setter her freshman year at Johnson County CC and libero at Butler CC this year. Taylin's athleticism and platform skills will bring depth and competition at the libero position for the Hornets.
Miyu Tsurumaki | 5-3 | Libero | Takeo, Japan | Takeo HS/College of Southern Idaho/Charlotte
Tsurumaki is a 5-3 libero from Takeo, Japan. She had 237 digs, 25 aces and 19 assists in 31 matches with 15 starts as a junior in 2023 at NCAA Division I University of Charlotte. She had 867 career digs in two years at Southern Idaho and was a two-time All-conference performer. She played at Takeo HS and was a member of the prefectural rep team in Japan where 12 players are selected for the Japanese Olympic Junior Cup All-Star team. She will enroll in the spring at Emporia State and will have one season of eligibility remaining.
Murczek on Tsurumaki
Miyu brings significant experience at the libero position into her last year of eligibility at Emporia State. A very quick defender with great touch on the ball.
Jade Xu | 6-1 | Outside/Opposite Hitter | Emporia, Kan. | Emporia HS
Xu is a 6-1 outside hitter/opposite hitter from Emporia, Kan. She finished her career with over 1,000 digs and 1,000 kills for Emporia HS. She is the daughter of former Emporia State head coach coach Bing Xu. She will graduate high school early and enroll at Emporia State as a freshman in January of 2026.
Murczek on Xu
Jade brings length and versatility to the pin hitting position being able to hit both on the left and right side. Her height and length will be an asset blocking at the net.
