Women's Volleyball | 9/28/2026 7:31:00 PM

NONCONFERENCE REMATCH
Emporia State is set for their home opener after 16 matches on the road as they host Pittsburg State in a nonconference matchup at White Auditorium on Tuesday night.

LAST MATCH VS. THE GORILLAS
On September 18, Emporia State traveled to Pittsburg for their MIAA opener. After the Hornets took the first set, the Gorillas took the next two before taking early control in set four. However, Emporia State responded with a set four win and a dominant 15-7 win in the final frame to take the match in five sets.

LAST TIME OUT
The Hornets wrapped up their month-long road trip to begin the season with matches at #7 Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Hays State. Emporia State struggled to get going against the Lopers, eventually falling in three frames, but the Hornets bounced back with a four-set win over the Tigers on Saturday afternoon. On the week, Lavra Krizanic and Piper Bahr had 27 and 23 kills respectively to lead the way in attack. Brailee Bogle also picked up 59 assists on the week as she passed 3,000 in her Hornet career.

ABOUT THE COACHES
Ken Murczek is in his fourth season at Emporia State and has a 66-35 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.
Megan Besecker is 25-19 in her second season as the head coach at Pittsburg State, as the Gorillas are just three wins behind their total in year one under Besecker. Besecker is also a former Hornet assistant which was followed by a successful run at Barton CC where the Cougars went 58-10.

ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 14-2 to open the 2026 season and 2-1 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 194 kills on .236 hitting, and Krizanic is one of two players averaging three kills per set as Piper Bahr has 149 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 .359 and .353 in attack while also leading Emporia State with 39 and 36 blocks respectively. Brailee Bogle and Delainee Dexter have shared the setting responsibilities and are combining to average 10.98 assists per set so far. On the defensive side, Krizanic has 195 digs while Bogle and Dexter and 124 and 115 respectively to aid libero Miyu Tsurumaki who has 267 on the season. 

SCOUTING THE LOPERS
Pittsburg State is 11-4 this season and have started 0-3 in the MIAA with their losses against Nebraska-Kearney, Fort Hays State and the Hornets. The Gorillas are hitting a highly efficient .263 in attack which is the third-best mark in the MIAA this season. Five players have over 100 kills so far this season with Maddi LaPointe and Crystal Smith being at the forefront of the attack, as they have 163 and 165 respectively. Smith sits at the top of the MIAA with a .419 hitting percentage through the middle. SImilar to the Hornets, the Gorillas have two setters helping to run their offense in Jesa Wallace and Brynna Zoeller combining to average 10.88 assists per set.

SERIES HISTORY
Emporia State leads the series with Pittsburg State 77-31 with the Hornets being 5-0 under Ken Murczek in the series, which includes a five-set win in each of the last two meetings.

IN THE RANKINGS
Emporia State entered the rankings at #25 during the week two AVCA Poll, and currently sit at #17 in the latest week five 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.