Women's Volleyball | 10/8/2026 1:17:00 PM

Matches 19-20
#19 Emporia State Hornets (15-3, 2-2 MIAA)
at Northeastern State Riverhawks (1-16, 0-6 MIAA)
Friday, Oct. 9, 2026 • 6:00 p.m. • Tahlequah, Okla.
Series History: First Meeting • Last Meeting: First Meeting

at Arkansas-Fort Smith (10-5, 0-2 MIAA)
Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026 • 3:00 p.m. • Fort Smith, Ark.
Series History: ESU leads 3-2 • Last Meeting: at ESU 3, UAFS 0 (11/14/25)
Complete Notes in PDF • The MIAA Network • Live Stats

FIRST FOR EVERYTHING
Emporia State volleyball heads to Tahlequah, Okla. and Fort Smith, Ark. for a pair of road matchups, with the meeting against Northeastern State being the first in program history.

LAST TIME OUT
The Hornets hosted a primetime Turnpike Tussle contest on Saturday at White Auditorium against the Ichabods. Washburn took the first two sets before Emporia State fought back to take both sets three and four and force a decisive fifth frame. The Hornets jumped in front of the Ichabods in the final set, but Washburn was able to rally and take set five 15-13 to claim the match. Lavra Krizanic led the Hornets with 15 kills in the match, while Ryann Hamilton posted career-highs in kills (12) and blocks (9) in the middle.

ABOUT THE COACHES
Ken Murczek is in his fourth season at Emporia State and has a 66-36 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.
Maria Jacobus is in her first year as a head coach and is 1-16 leading the inaugural season for the Riverhawks.
Jane Sargent is in her now 28th year at Arkansas-Fort Smith and has a 748-213 career record with the Lions.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 15-3 to open the 2026 season and 2-2 in the MIAA, with their two losses coming against #1 Ferris State and #7 Nebraska-Kearney. Lavra Krizanic is leading the Hornets in attack with 224 kills on .242 hitting, and Krizanic is one of two players averaging three kills per set as Piper Bahr has added 168 kills this season. Delainee Dexter, Jade Xu and Maja Ciosek have also contributed along the outside for the Hornets. In the middle, Brooklynn Weaver and Mia Frisbie are hitting an efficient .354 and .336 in attack while also leading Emporia State with 41 and 39 blocks respectively. Brailee Bogle and Delainee Dexter have shared the setting responsibilities and are combining to average 11.23 assists per set so far. On the defensive side, Krizanic has 218 digs while Bogle and Dexter and 136 and 127 respectively to aid libero Miyu Tsurumaki who leads the way with 307 on the season. 

SCOUTING THE RIVERHAWKS
Northeastern State is 1-16 in the first season as an NCAA program and have started 0-6 in the MIAA. The Riverhawks have struggled offensively, hitting .059 as a squad  and are led by Ashlyn Tag who has 95 kills on the season. At setter, the Riverhawks have used both Sydney Dunkleberger and Tiyana Bhatts who ahve 231 and 152 assists respectively.

SERIES HISTORY
This is the first meeting between Emporia State and Northeastern State in volleyball as the Riverhawks are playing in their inaugural season.

SCOUTING THE LIONS
Arkansas-Fort Smith is 14-6 on the season and have started 2-4 in the MIAA with conference wins over Missouri Southern and Northeastern State. The Lions are hitting .208 as a team, with Aspen Olson and Lydia Pitts leading the way in attack. Olson is hitting a team-best .304 while Pitts has 212 kills on the season, placing her squarely in the top 10 in the association. Mayli Whetter is taking on the setting responsibilities and ranks fifth in the MIAA in assists per set.

SERIES HISTORY
Emporia State leads the all-time series 3-2 with the Hornets winning both matches since the Lions joined the MIAA prior to the 2024 season.

IN THE RANKINGS
Emporia State entered the rankings at #25 during the week two AVCA Poll, and currently sit at #19 in the latest week six poll released on Monday. The Hornets are one of four 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 ten teams in the top 25 and another two receiving votes in week five's iteration.