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PITTSBURG, Kan. -- The Pittsburg State Volleyball team will open the 2013 season with the seven-team Pittsburg State Classic on Friday, September 6 and Saturday, Sepetmber 7 in John Lance Arena.

The Pittsburg State Classic will feature the Gorillas, Missouri Southern, Missouri Western, Ouachita Baptist, Quincy, Rockhurst and Southeastern Oklahoma in 14 matches on two courts over the two days. 

PItt State will open the tournament on Friday at 11:30 a.m. against Southeastern Oklahoma. The Savage Storm return six players with starting appearance from last year's team that finished 5-28. GAC Freshman of the year, Megan Kunkel returns for her sophomore season after tallying 323 (2.78 k/set) kills and led the team with 39 service aces. Junior outside hitter, Emily Gentle received second team accolades after leading the Storm with 354 kills (3.05 k/set). Madelynn Cera, junior setter, who earned honorable mention honors, led the team with 597 assists (5.15 a/set) a season ago. 

The Gorillas will finish out the day on Friday with a 6:30 p.m. match against Ouachita Baptist. The Lady Tigers wrapped up their 2012 campaign with a record of 10-16. Seniors Faith Avalos and Kelsi Bodine are the lone seniors for OBU. Avalos, an outside hitter, recorded 157 kills with a .120 attack percentage during her junior season. Bodine, paced the team tallied 141 kills with a .176 attack percentage on the year. Sophomore outside hitter, Abby Pickett returns from being named to the GAC honorable mention team after ranking in the top three in the conference in attacks, kills and blocks.

On Saturday, the  Gorillas face Rockhurst at 11 a.m. The Hawks return 13 players from its 2012 GLVC Championship team that finished the year 28-7. Co-Freshman of the Year and first team all conference selection, Kelsey Stratman, returns after leading the conference and ranking 16th in the country with 1.29 blocks per set.  She tallied 292 kills, 143 blocks, 37 digs and 11 aces in 112 sets. Fellow sophomore, Whitney Kostal was named to the All-GLVC West Division team after her freshman campaign. Kostal led the team with 1,339 assists and notched 24 service aces in 128 sets. 

The tournament ends with a 5 p.m. match on Saturday between the Gorillas and MIAA foe Missouri Western. The Griffons finished the 2012 season with a 16-16 record. MWSU returns eight players who started at least 10 matches last season and 11 players who played in 20 or sets. The Griffons return honorable mention All-MIAA selections setter Stephanie Hattey and right side hitter Jessie Thorup. Hattey, a senior setter/outside hitter was second on the team with 243 kills while hitting .173. She also led the Griffons with 656 assists and 20 service aces on the year. As a freshman Throup led the team with 274 kills (2.38 kills/set). She hit .230 with 718 attack attempts. 

The Gorillas were 17-13 in 2012 and return nine players from that squad. The Gorillas are a fairly young team with only four seniors and its primary returning point scorers being sophmores or juniors. Seniors Jordan Rehm and Christa McCaw have been valuable players in the back court for the Gorillas and will look to continue and expand their roles this season. Both Kirsten Eriksen and Abbie Smith have battled injuries in their careers, but are looking forward to their senior season to make a big impact for the Gorillas. Sophomore Crystal Whitten is the leading returning point scorer from a year ago. She averaged a team-leading 2.66 kills per set, while also contributing 2.12 digs per set.  Junior Paula Okrutna was also a plater for the Gorillas at the net with 2.07 kills per set and 58 total blocks on the season. Haylee Gregory battled a shoulder injury to contribue just under two points per game. She will be looked to to be a big force in the middle this season. Sophomore Hayley Hansford is the top returning setter with 4.53 assists per set last season.

The entire schedule for the tournament can be found at the Pitt State Classic home page. Admission is $12 for adults and $6 for children and seniors on Friday only. There will be no admission charged on Saturday, though volleyball fans will have to pay to park across the street from John Lance Arena due to football game day parking restrictions. There will be no parking on the north or east sides of the arena, but additional free parking is available at the Kansas Technology Center at the corner of Ford and Rouse.