PITTSBURG, Kan. -- The PIttsburg State Volleyball team (will meet a tough challenge in its first MIAA road trip of the season, as the team travels to Lindenwood (3-6, 0-1 MIAA) on Friday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m., and No. 14 Central Missouri (4-5, 1-0 MIAA) on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 3 p.m.

Lindenwood lost its first conference match of the season to Northwest Missouri in Maryville, Mo. in five sets. The Lions were recently at the Steel and Silver Classic along with the Gorillas and went 1-3 in the tournament, with a win over Alaska-Fairbanks and losses to Saint Martin's, Colorado-Colorado Springs and Colorado State-Pueblo. 

Three players contribute more that 2.0 kills per set for the Lions, led by Shannon Doyle with 3.00 kps. She also adds 2.71 digs per set. Jessica Krygsheld adds 2.71 kills and 2.62 digs per set. Sarah Makowski adds 2.09 kills per set and leads the team with 1.47 blocks per set. Anna Reichert leads the team with 4.12 dps. Ivy Reynolds is the team's primary setter with 8.00 assister per set. 

Central Missouri's record does not accurately reflect its level of play thus far this season. The Jennies five losses came at the hands of No. 2 Tampa, No. 4 BYU-Hawaii, now No. 23 Colorado Mesa and Florida Southern and Metro State who are both receiving votes. The Jennies earned win over No. 24 Indianapolis and No. 13 Ferris State, as well as Tusculum and Missouri Western in their conference opener. Saturday will be the Jennies' first home match of the season.

The Jennies hit .161 as a team and average 12.96 kps, 17.89 dps and 1.85 bps. 

Carly Sojka and Haley Thompson lead the team with 3.59 and 3.52 kps, respectively. Kourtney Thompson is the team's setter with 9.37 aps. Annie Reilly leads the team with 6.11 dps as the team's libero. Shelby Winklemann adds 3.26 dps and three more players average 2.0 dps or more. Haley Thompson leads the team with 30 blocks on the season for 1.11 bps.

The Gorillas are 4-5 overall and 1-0 in conference play. Five of the team's nine matches this season have been decided in five sets and the team is 3-2 in those match. The team has also split two 3-0 matches and lost two four-set matches. The Gorillas average 12.87 kps with a .229 attack percentage. The team has recorded 41 service aces on the season, while allowing opponents 53. Pitt State averages 14.59 dps, almost two more than their opponents. The team has 73.0 blocks on the season for 1.87 bps.

Pitt State is a very balanced team with many different players contributing in each match. Four players average 2.25 kps or better. Madi Mosier leads the group with 3.72 kps. Ary Crittleton adds 2.58 kps, Paula Okrutna 2.50 kps and Ashley Bell, 2.26 kps. Hayley Hansford runs the offense from the setter position with 10.31 aps.  

Defensively, libero Ashlen Schwartz leads the team with 4.24 dps. Mosier adds 2.31, Shontanae Addison, 2.22 and Hayley Hansford, 2.08 dps. Three different players have 20 or more blocks on the season. Haylee Gregory leads the team with 28 blocks (three solo, 25 assisted). Madi Mosier adds 24 blocks (four solo, 20 assisted) and Ashley Bell has 21 (two solo, 19 assisted).