Women's Volleyball | 9/24/2026 11:20:00 AM

Matches 15-16
#17 Emporia State Hornets (13-1, 1-0 MIAA)
at #7 Nebraska-Kearney Lopers (13-1, 2-0 MIAA)
Friday, Sep. 25 • 6:00 p.m. • Kearney, Neb. • Health & Sports Center
Series History: UNK leads 50-12 • Last Meeting: ESU 3, at UNK 1 (11/8/25)

at Fort Hays State Tigers (10-5, 0-2 MIAA)
Saturday, Sep. 26, 2025 • 2:00 p.m. • Hays, Kan. • Gross Coliseum
Series History: ESU leads 58-32 • Last Meeting: ESU 3, at FHSU 1 (11/7/25)
Complete Notes in PDF • The MIAA Network • Live Stats

TOP TEN OUT WEST
Emporia State volleyball heads west for a pair of MIAA matches, with a Friday night test at #7 Nebraska-Kearney highlighting the trip.

LAST TIME OUT
The Hornets traveled to the Four States region for their MIAA opener at Pittsburg State and ended up going the distance against the Gorillas. Emporia State took set, and after set two went to the Gorillas, it looked the Hornets were setup to take a 2-1 lead after set three before the hosts rallied to move ahead in the match. The Hornets were then able to rally in set four before controlling set five to take the opener in five frames. Lavra Krizanic tallied 19 kills on the night while Piper Bahr and Mia Frisbie had 11 and 10 kills.

ABOUT THE COACHES
Ken Murczek is in his fourth season at Emporia State and has a 65-34 record through the first three-plus 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 three seasons of his tenure.
Rick Squiers is 831-116 in his 28th season as the head coach at Nebraska-Kearney. The Lopers have won 26 or more matches each season since 1999 and have won 30-plus 17 times.
Garcia Ramser is in his first season as the head coach at Fort Hays State and is 10-5 so far. Ramser was previously the head coach for two seasons at Adams State.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 13-1 to open the 2026 season and have won ten straight matches following their lone defeat against currently top ranked Ferris State at the Bulldogs' home tournament. Lavra Krizanic is leading the Hornets in attack with 167 kills on .248 hitting, and Krizanic is one of two players averaging three kills per set as Piper Bahr has 126 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 .383 and .365 in attack while also leading Emporia State with 33 and 31 blocks respectively. Brailee Bogle and Delainee Dexter have shared the setting responsibilities and are combining to average 10.78 assists per set so far. On the defensive side, Krizanic has 166 digs while Bogle and Dexter and 103 and 105 respectively to aid libero Miyu Tsurumaki who has 232 on the season. 

SCOUTING THE LOPERS
Nebraska-Kearney is 13-1 this season and are ranked #7 in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll. The Lopers have started the MIAA 2-0 with wins over Fort Hays State and Washburn in three sets and they have lost just three sets this season, which came in their lone loss to Colorado Mesa on opening weekend. UNK has been extremely efficient in attack this season, hitting .304 as a team which is led by a host of middle blockers, along with Brynn Stowell on the outside who is hitting .364 with 111 kills on the season. The Lopers have used two setters this season, with Ellie Eckman and Callie Squiers combining for 10.79 assists per set. Defensively, the Lopers have excelled at the net, totaling 34 solo blocks and 150 block assists this season. Sydney Davis has 16 solos and 57 total this season.

SERIES HISTORY
Nebraska-Kearney leads the all-time over the Hornets 50-12, but Emporia State won both matches last season, after picking up their first win over the Lopers since the 1988 season.

SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Fort Hays State is 10-5 this season and have started 0-2 in MIAA action, but have faced off with the seventh-ranked Lopers as well as #13 Washburn in the matches last week. The Tigers are hitting .234 this season and have four players averaging 2.34 kills per set or more. Mylie Brown is leading the way with 158 kills and is averaging 3.04 per set. Annie Eaton and Sophie Sander are combining to average nearly 12 assists per set, with Eaton at 7.89 so far this season.

SERIES HISTORY
Emporia State leads the series with Fort Hays State 58-32 with the Hornets winning all six meetings under Ken Murczek in the past three seasons.

IN THE RANKINGS
Emporia State entered the rankings at #25 during the week two AVCA Poll, and have since moved up to #17 in the week four 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 nine teams in the top 25 and another four receiving votes in week four's iteration.