PITTSBURG, Kan. -- The Pittsburg State colleyball team will return to the road this weekend to travel to Maryville and St. Joseph, Mo. for MIAA matches. The Gorillas will face Northwest Missouri on Friday (Oct. 3) at 7 p.m. and Missouri Westerm on Saturday (Oct. 4) at 1 p.m.

The Bearcats are 6-8 overall and 3-3 in the MIAA. They currently sit in sicthplace in the league behind five 5-1 teams. The team's three conference losses have come at the hands of Central Oklahoma (3-0), Missouri Western (3-2) and Washburn (3-1), while earning wins over Missouri Southern, Emporia State and Lindenwood. The team averages 12.1 kills, 14.1 digs and 1.8 blocks per set. They hit at a .154 clip. Miranda Foster leads the team with 3.46 kps, While Jackie Becker adds 2.52. Becker is also the team's top blocker with 50 total blocks on the season. Bailey Vance gets 3.73 dps and Foster adds 3.00. Sarah Dannettell is the team's setter with 10.00 assists per sset. Kirsten Hudgens leads the team with 23 service aces.

Missouri Western is 11-3 on the season and one of five MIAA teams tied with a 5-1 record in the early part of the season. The team's lone conference loss was to Central Missouri, 3-0. The Griffons earned wins over Emporia State, Washburn, Northwest Missouri, Missouri Southern and Central Oklahoma. The team puts down 13.8 kills and 2.0 blocks per set along with 14.2 digs per set. They have a .278 attack percentage and have 64 service aces on the season. Jessie Thorup and Erica Rottinghaus each average over 3.00 kills per set with 3.79 and 3.42, respectively. Amanda Boender is just below them w ith 2.44 kps and leads the team with 53 total blocks for 1.02 bps. Sarah Faubel leads with 3.44 dps. Jordan Chohon is the team's setter with 11.60 aps. 

The Gorillas are 5-9 overall and 2-4 in the MIAA. The team is tied with Fort Hays State for seventh in the league standings. Madi Mosier leads the Gorillas offense with 3.56 kps. Ary Crittleton adds 2.43, Paula Okrutna, 2.42, and Ashley Bell, 2.03. The Gorillas also have four players with 30 or more blocks on the season, Haylee Gregory leads with 44, Mosier adds 41, Bell, 33, and Crittleton, 32. Ashlen Schwartz and Aimee Wood are steadies in the back court for the Gorillas. Schwartz averages 4.14 dps, while Woods contributes 3.00. Hayley Hansford runs the offense in the setter position with 9.66 assists per set.

As a team, the Gorillas get 12.26 kills, 13.74 digs and 2.05 blocks per set. They are currently hitting at a .215 clip. Of the team's 14 matches on the season, only three have been decided in three sets and only two in four sets. The remaining five matches were decided in five sets, including each of the last three and five of the last six.