Women's Volleyball | 10/22/2026 11:59:00 AM
Matches 23-24
#13 Emporia State Hornets (19-3, 4-2 MIAA)
at Missouri Southern Lions (7-13, 1-6 MIAA)
Friday, Oct. 23, 2026 • 6:00 p.m. • Joplin, Mo. • Leggett & Platt Athletic Center
Series History: ESU leads 54-34 •
Last Meeting: ESU 3, MSSU 0 (10/18/25)
at (RV) Central Missouri Jennies (14-9, 5-2 MIAA)
Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026 • 2:00 p.m. • Warrensburg, Mo. • Hughes Athletic Center
Series History: UCM leads 62-8 • Last Meeting: ESU 3, UCM 2 (10/17/25)
Complete Notes in PDF • The MIAA Network • Live Stats
SHOW ME SHOWDOWNS
Emporia State volleyball heads to the Show Me State for their final two road matches of the regular season as they take on Missouri Southern and Central Missouri.
LAST TIME OUT
The Hornets headed to Maryville, Mo. for a pair of the matches in the MIAA In-Season Tournament and came away with a pair of wins. Emporia State swept the hosts Northwest Missouri to begin the weekend, and followed that with a four-set win over fifth-ranked Nebraska-Kearney. The Hornets rallied from a 1-0 deficit in the match to down the Lopers in four, as they held UNK to their fourth-lowest hitting percentage of the season. Ryann Hamilton played a key part in that, as she tallied 17 blocks in the two matches to win MIAA Defensive Athlete of the Week honors.
ABOUT THE COACHES
Ken Murczek is in his fourth season at Emporia State and has a 70-36 record through the first three-plus seasons. 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 three seasons of his tenure. Murczek is currently 235-181 in his career.
Joshua Moore is in his second year at Missouri Southern and is 17-31 leading the Lions.
Caitlin Peterson is in her now fifth year at Central Missouri and has an 89-51 career record with the Jennies.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 19-3 this season with a 4-2 MIAA record, while also being ranked #13 in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll. The Hornets currently rank top three in the MIAA in kills per set, assists per set, and service aces allowed. Lavra Krizanic leads the MIAA with a 3.55 kills per set average and 270 total kills. Three more Hornets have over 100 kills with Piper Bahr just over the 200 mark with 201 on the season. Brailee Bogle, who is now third on the Emporia State career assists ladder, is averaging 7.88 assists per set. On defense, four Hornets have over 40 total blocks, with Ryann Hamilton leading the way at 53 following 17 last week to earn MIAA Defensive Player of the Week honors.
SCOUTING THE LIONS
Missouri Southern is 7-13 this season with a 1-6 mark in the MIAA, while also picking up a four-set win last weekend over Arkansas-Fort Smith in the MIAA In-Season Tournament. The Lions are hitting .191 as a team and are led by Addysen Alvis with 245 kills as she averages 3.31 kills per set.
SERIES HISTORY
Emporia State leads the series with the Lions 54-34 and have won all three meetings since Ken Murczek became the head coach in 2023.
SCOUTING THE JENNIES
Central Missouri is 14-9 on the season with a 5-2 mark in the MIAA as they currently are receiving votes in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll. The Jennies have picked up multiple notable wins on the season, defeating #6 Barry and (RV) Grand Valley State on opening weekend, along with a win over MSU Denver the following week. The Jennies are have five attackers with over 100 kills and Maya Fergerson has the team-high with 252 on the season with hitting .246. Kaelyn McDonald has been the most efficient, hitting .333 on her way to 182 kills this season. McDonald has also been one of the more dominant middle blockers in the MIAA, tallying 89 total blocks this season.
SERIES HISTORY
Central Missouri leads the series with the Hornets 62-8, but the Hornets have pulled out the last two meetings with the Jennies in five sets.
IN THE RANKINGS
Emporia State entered the rankings at #25 during the week two AVCA Poll, and currently sit at #13 in the latest week eight poll released on Monday. The Hornets are one of five MIAA teams in the top 25 and six that are at least receiving votes. In addition to the MIAA's presence, the central region has 11 teams in the top 25 and another receiving votes in week five's iteration.
NOTICING THE NPI
Division II released their first NPI rankings of the 2026 season, and the Hornets are currently slotted third in the central region with the seventh-best NPI in the country. NPI stands for NCAA Power Index and will be used to rank teams for postseason play.
