PITTSBURG – The Pittsburg State Volleyball team will travel to Arkadelphia, Ark. for the Bettye Wallace Invitational, jointly hosted by Henderson State and Ouachia Baptist. Live stats will be available for all games, via the links listed on the right or on the schedule page.

Pitt State will open the tournament on Friday at Ouchita Baptist's Sturgis Center against West Alabama at 9 a.m. on Saturday, followed by a 2 p.m. match against the host team. On Saturday the Gorillas will play their first match at 2 p.m. against Arkansas Tech at Henderson State's Dunn Rec Center. The team will then move to Henderson State's Duke Wells Center to face the Reddies at 4:30 p.m. to close out the tournament. 

While Pitt State did not get the results head coach Jen Gomez was hoping for in its first weekend out, the team did show improvement throughout the Washburn Invitational. The Gorillas lost 3-1 in three of their matches and 3-0 in one. They recorded a .145 attack percentage as a team and averaged 10.8 kills per set. The team dug up 15.3 balls per set and put down 1.0 blocks per set. 

Individually, junior Peyton Walker and senior Maggie Highberger led the team with 2.54 and 2.47 kills per set, respectively. Sophomore Lauren Regier (1.87 kps) was just behind them with just under 2.0 kps. Sophomore Cal VanBuskirk and freshman Kylie Farris shared setting duties. Farris finished the weekend with 31 assists over four sets for 7.75 assists per set. VanBuskirk added 99 assists over 13 sets for 7.62 aps. Highberger led the Gorillas wil four service aces, while Regier had three. 

Defensively, senior libero Ashlen Schwartz led the team with 4.2 digs per set. Redshirt freshman Lauren Maisberger (2.57), senior Taylor Wright (2.36) and Farris (2.25) each added over two digs per set. Sophomore Noelle Dooley led the Gorillas at the net with 11 block assists. Fellow sophomore Taylor Unke recorded two solo blocks and six block assists, while Regier contributed six block assists. 

West Alabama kicked off their season 3-1 at the Capital Classic last weekend in Springfield, Ill. Tough competition resulted in the Tigers downing Upper Iowa and Illinois-Springfield in five sets and falling to William Jewell in five. Ohio Valley handed the Tigers a third win.
 
The Tiger attack is headlined by junior Briana Sandifer, a first-team All-GSC recipient. The middle blocker averaged  4.47 kills per set and served a team-high eight aces the previous weekend. Yanesha Johnson, a senior outside hitter, contributed 62 kills and a .211 clip. She also doubled in back row duties with 69 total digs. Lone setter Callie Murphy paces the Tigers with 11.21 assists per set and seven total aces on the season.
 
As a team, West Alabama averages 12.37 kills and 15.58 points per set. The Tigers also dish out 14.00 digs and, 1.74 service aces and 1.47 blocks per set.
 
The Ouchita Baptist Lady Tigers sit atop the GAC rankings with a 3-1 record alongside Oklahoma Baptist and Southeastern Oklahoma State. They knocked off Spring Hill College and Kentucky Wesleyan and fell to tournament host Alabama-Huntsville, all in four sets. The Lady Tigers then swept Williams Baptist in their home opener.
 
The Lady Tigers face Pittsburg State with a young, but talented front row. Freshmen Adrianna Nolly (3.07 kps) and Tabatha Huckabee  (2.87 kps) are hitting over a .300 clip and lead the team in blocks, averaging .70 as a duo. Junior Kori Bullard and senior Jayme Shell have just over 30 kills apiece. Sophomore Stormi Leonard dishes out 11.13 aps with 42 digs and senior libero Ashley Wake gets 3.20 dps.
 
Ouachita Baptist records 13.33 kps and hit a .266 clip as a team, while holding opponents to just 11.80 kps and a .180 clip. The Lady Tigers also average 14.33 dps, 12.60 aps and 1.73 bps.
 
The Gorillas will open Saturday play against Arkansas Tech, who is 2-2 on the season. The Golden Suns defeated Saint Joseph's and Barton College on opening day of the Christian Brothers Tournament and fell to Texas A&M-Kingsville and Christian Brothers the following day.
 
Hunter Eshnaur is the offensive leader for the Golden Suns. The sophomore outside hitter and 2015 GAC Freshman of the Year records 2.94 kps and also has a team-high 15 service aces. Senior McCall Wilkins adds 2.18 kps, freshman Amanda Milnick 1.71 kps and freshman Lauren Rodemers, 1.60 kps.  Rodemers leads in blocks with 12 total. Milnick and junior Sarah Rosinke share setting duties for the Golden Suns. Junior defensive specialist Madison Nagel contributes 4.18 dps.
 
Arkansas Tech tallies 14.94 pps and 11.65 kps as a team. Additionally, they record and 14.94 dps, 11.00 aps and 1.53 bps.
 
Pittsburg State will round out tournament play with Henderson State, who is 3-2 on the season. The highlight of Reddies's opening weekend at the Tampa Classic was upsetting No. 7 Tampa in five sets. The team also came out victorious against Franklin Pierce and Central Baptist, but fell to Minnesota State-Mankato and Pittsburgh-Johnstown.
 
Eight players of the fourteen-man Reddies squad come in as true freshmen, two of which have made immediate impacts in the offensive attack thus far. Sophomore Sharon Tukuaoga (.294 clip) and freshman Courtney Bolf (3.32 dps) are recording over 3.00 kps. Freshman Kamra Jackson adds 2.32 kps and freshman Adrianna Hartmann has10 total blocks. Sariah Boney paces the Reddies with 11.00 aps and a team-high six service aces. Junior libero Sydney Skelton heads the back row with 4.42 dps. Sophomore Gabby Ginapp has eight total blocks.
 
Henderson State is averaging 14.16 pps and 11.84 kps. They also record 14.95 dps, 11.00 aps, and 1.05 bps.