Emporia State volleyball looking to build off 2023 season

EMPORIA (KSNT) - In head coach Ken Murczek's first season at Emporia State in 2023, the Hornets saw significant improvements from the previous season, something they intend to build upon in 2024.

Murczek inherited a program that finished 4-25 overall and 1-19 in conference play in 2022. In 2023, ESU jumped to a 13-16 overall record, going 7-13 in conference play with its first MIAA tournament appearance since 2018.

"We had a group last year that was committed to a new vision, and they did a great job of buying into that," Murczek said. "They set the bar pretty high last year."

The Hornets' roster features a few returners, but also several newcomers, including five freshmen. ESU's veteran players are looking forward to continuing what they and Coach Murczek established last season.

"I definitely learned a lot from last season," Camilla Ossola, an ESU junior, Italy native and Silver Lake grad, said. "A lot of technique things that we had to fix...we learned from what we did last season and we're going to be better this year."

Emporia State opens its 2024 campaign against Rockhurst at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 5 in the Kansas City Classic.