PITTSBURG – The Pitt State Volleyball team (4-17, 2-7 MIAA) begins a five-game home stand this weekend as Washburn and Emporia State come to John Lance Arena for 6 p.m. matches on Friday (October 21) and Saturday (October 22). 

The Gorillas currently sit in 10th in the MIAA standings, ahead of Missouri Southern and Southwest Baptist. They are only half a game behind Emporia State. 

Pittsburg State averages 10.7 kills per set and a .137 attack percentage, while allowing opponents 12.5 kills per set and a .210 attack percentage. Defensively, the Gorillas record 14.5 digs and 1.5 blocks per set. 

Maggie Highberger is the Gorillas top point scorer. She scores 2.75 points per set, including 2.53 kills and 0.21 blocks per set. She also has four service aces on the season. Peyton Walker is just behind Highberger with 2.52 points per set, including 2.31 kills. She is fourth on the team with 21.0 total blocks. Zoey Qi adds 1.98 kills and is third on the team with 27 total blocks. Taylor Unke leads the team with 52.0 total blocks, including 13 solo blocks. She also adds 1.33 kps. Lauren Regier is second with 34 blocks and adds 1.76 kps. 

Cal VanBuskirk leads the Pitt State offense with 531 assists on the season for 7.48 aps. 

As the Gorilla libero, Ashlen Schwartz records 3.72 digs per set. Defensive specialists Lauren Maisberger and Taylor Wright add 2.34 and 2.20 digs per set, respectively. 

No. 14 Washburn enters the weekend with a 19-4 overall and 9-1 MIAA record, holding the number two spot in the MIAA standings behind No. 4 Nebraska-Keaney. The Ichabods were tested last weekend by Northwest Missouri, but were able to pull off the win in five sets. The team also swept Missouri Western in St. Joseph last weekend.

Leanna Willer and Sarah Vicory carry the offensive attack, each averaging over three kills per set. Willer also tops the conference with a total 27 service aces and Vicory is third with a .404 clip. Another conference leader is libero Alyssa Carney, who digs up 5.3 balls per set. The former MIAA Specialist of the Week Natalie Bates dishes out 8.7 assists per set for the Ichabods. Vicory has 67 blocks on the season and Makayla Maxwell adds 59.

As a team, Washburn sits atop the conference in digs with 17.9 per set. They're also recording 13.8 kills, 12.5 assists and 1.9 blocks per set. The team holds opponents to just 10.8 kps.

Emporia State stands at 11-12 overall and 3-7 in the conference. The Hornets edged past Missouri Western in five sets, but fell to Northwest Missouri in three last weekend. The team also swept non-conference foe Newman in three sets earlier in the week.

Josie Williams (2.9 kps) and Jamie Hauptman (2.0 kps) headline the Hornet offense. Danika Burton records a conference-high 84 total blocks this season and Shayla Cotman has 76 blocks, 14 of which were solo. Kimberly Bell and Emma Dixon switch off setting duties, averaging 4.5 aps as a duo. Allie Maloney stands at the number-two spot with 5.2 dps, just behind Alyssa Carney of Washburn.

Emporia State collectively hits a .175 clip and ranks third in the conference in blocks with 2.2 bps. They also tab 17.0 dps, 11.7 kps and 10.9 aps.