PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University volleyball team will return to action Thursday and Friday (Sept. 14-15) when the Gorillas travel to Edmond, Okla., to take part in the GAC/MIAA Regional Crossover.

Pitt State will start the weekend with two matches Thursday (Sept. 14) against Southwestern Oklahoma at 11 a.m. and Southeastern Oklahoma at 4 p.m. The Gorillas will complete the tournament action Friday (Sept. 15) when they battle Northwestern Oklahoma at 10 a.m. and the host school, Southern Nazarene, at 6 p.m.

Scouting the Gorillas
Pitt State will take a 2-6 record to the GAC/MIAA Regional Crossover. The Gorillas will look to halt a five-match losing streak after starting the season 2-1.
 
Offensively, junior rightside hitter Lauren Regier leads the squad with 86 kills (2.97 kps) followed closely by junior outside hitter Noelle Dooley with 78 kills (2.79 kps).
 
Dooley was named to the All-Tournament Team in Pitt State's most recent action at the Missouri S&T Middle of Everywhere Classic Sept. 8-9. She recorded a season-high 18 kills in a five-set battle against Christian Brothers on Sept. 9.

Junior setter Carolina VanBuskirk has collected 152 assists on the young season, averaging 5.63 assists per set.
 
Sophomore defensive specialist Lauren Maisberger helps pace the Pitt State defense with 108 digs (3.90 dps), while freshman middle blocker Emily Regier averages 0.83 blocks per set.

Scouting the Opposition
Pitt State's opening opponent – Southwestern Oklahoma – comes in with a 3-5 record. The Bulldogs return eight players from 2016 and added three transfers to their 2017 roster. Junior outside hitter Danusia Sipa Borgeaud leads the offense averaging 2.60 kills per set. The Bulldogs' defense starts with sophomore defensive specialist Kaitlyn Dillon recording 156 digs (4.46 dps) and junior middle blocker Addie Aman putting up 0.74 blocks per set.

Southeastern Oklahoma has logged a 3-5 record and the Savage Storm welcome back eight players from 2016. Junior outside hitter Abby Jameson leads the team with 3.50 kills per set and junior middle blocker Arianna Baker chips in with 3.25 kps and 0.64 blocks per set. Defensive specialist Caitlin Cosby contributes 5.44 digs per set.
 
Northwestern Oklahoma has started off the season with a 5-4 record, while returning 10 players from 2016 and adding eight freshmen to the 2017 roster. Sophomore outside hitter Jennifer Eubanks averages 2.83 kills per set while freshman middle blocker Lauren Symington contributes 0.95 blocks per set. Senior defensive specialist Carley Geer leads the defense with 4.30 digs per set.
 
Southern Nazarene enters the tournament with a 3-4 record. The Crimson Storm returns 10 players from the 2016 roster. Sophomore outside hitter Bailee Turang leads the offense with 3.64 kills per set, while sophomore setter Kylie Smith contributes 8.14 assists per set. Senior defensive specialist Elyse Berlin averages 4.22 digs per set to lead the defense.

Up Next
Following the GAC/MIAA Regional Crossover, Pitt State will travel to Bolivar, Mo., to start MIAA play against Southwest Baptist on Sept. 22 at 7 p.m.