PITTSBURG -- The Pitt State Volleyball team (5-21, 3-11 MIAA) takes to the road for its final two weeks of the season, beginning this weekend with a 7 p.m. Friday (November 4) match at Southwest Baptist, followed by a 5 p.m. match at Missouri Souther on Saturday (November 5).

This will be the second meeting with each of the two teams this season. Pitt State won the previous meetings, earning 3-0 wins over both the Bearcats and the Lions on October 7 and 8. 

Pitt State has been playing better of late, despite some tough losses. The Gorillas average 10.9 kills per set and has a .139 attack percentage, while allowing opponents earn 12.4 kps and a .213 attack percentage. The Gorillas add 14.5 digs and 1.5 blocks per set.

Maggie Highberger has come into her own in her senior season. She leads the Gorillas with 2.69 kps. She also adds 1.67 dps and has 18 blocks and nine service aces on the season. Peyton Walker adds 2.31 kps, but has been out of late due to injury. Zoey Qi adds 1.95 kps to the Gorilla scoring effort and is third on the team with 39 total blocks. Sophomores Taylor Unke and Lauren Regier have added needed points for the Gorillas with Unke producing 1.46 kps, while leading the team with 64 blocks, and Regier adding 1.79 kps and is second in blocks with 44. 

Cal VanBuskirk is the Gorilla setter with 7.93 assists per set. Ashlen Schwartz leads the team in digs with 3.82 dps, while Taylor Wright adds 2.18 and Lauren Maisberger, 2.16. These four players also lead the team in service aces. VanBuskirk leads with 14, Wright has earned 13, Maisberger, 12, and Schwartz, 11. 

Southwest Baptist enters the weekend with a 3-25 and 0-14 MIAA record, looking to break their 19-game losing streak. No. 4 Nebraska-Kearney, Fort Hays State and Missouri Southern all swept the Bearcats over the weekend.
 
Dana Neal continues to lead the Bearcat offense with 2.4 kills per set while Kalyn Sotomayor contributes 2.0 kps. Katie Robinson adds 1.7 kps and leads at the net with 84 total blocks. Serena Mar and Brea Freeman trade off shifts as setter, as they combine for 7.2 assists per set. Bailey Baumann's 3.8 dps is a team-high, as well as her and Mar's 46 service aces combined.
 
The Bearcats are hitting a .115 clip with 9.6 kps. Additionally, they record 14.2 digs, 8.7 assists and 1.8 blocks per set.
 
Missouri Southern 5-22 on the season and 2-12 in the conference. No. 4 Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Hays State handed the Lions two losses, but were victorious on their homecourt against Southwest Baptist. The team will face No. 9 Central Oklahoma on Nov. 4 prior to hosting Pittsburg State.
 
Bailey Rexford and Christina Perlinger compile 2.1 kps apiece to headline the Lions. Sydney Dose adds 1.8 kps and Alicia Pickett, 1.6 kps. Whitney Harrison and Bradyn Wall dish 12.8 aps combined as the team's setting duo. Kat Gries handles back row duties with 3.1 kps and 20 aces and Pickett covers the net with 79 total blocks.
 
As a team, Missouri Southern average 9.5 kps with a .101 clip. They also add 12.1 dps, 8.7 kps and 1.6 bps.