PITTSBURG --- The Pittsburg State University volleyball team will open MIAA play this weekend with road matches Friday (Sept. 22) and Saturday (Sept. 23).
 
The Gorillas will make their conference debut against Southwest Baptist University at Bolivar, Mo., Friday at 7 p.m. and wrap up the weekend action Saturday against Missouri Southern State University at Joplin, Mo., at 2 p.m.
 
Scouting the Gorillas
Pitt State will bring a 3-9 record into the weekend action. The Gorillas will seek to halt a five-match losing streak.
 
Junior right-side hitter Lauren Regier complied 132 kills (2.93 kps) with junior right-side hitter Noelle Dooley contributing 110 kills (2.56 kps).
 
Freshmen middle blocker Emily Regier records 35 total blocks (0.80 bps) to lead the team. Sophomore defensive specialist Lauren Maisberger adds 184 digs (4.09dps) on the season.  
 
The Opponents:
SBU is 1-12 on the season. The Bearcats returned nine players from a 2016 squad that finished 12^th in the MIAA standings last season. Senior rightside hitter Katie Robinson leads the offense with 2.0 kills per set and averages 1.11 blocks per set. Junior defensive specialist Bailey Baumann adds 3.52 digs per set with junior setter Brea Freeman contributes 4.85 assist per set.
 
 
MSSU is 7-6 overall. The Lions ended the 2016 season in the 11^th spot in the MIAA standings and split 1-1 last season against the Gorillas. The Lions currently have a 7-5 record on the 2017 season. Offensively freshmen outside hitter Janelle Brehm leads the Lions with 3.55 (kps) followed with sophomore middle hitter Alicia Pickett adding 2.48 (kps). Junior defensive specialist Teryn Scott averages 3.50 digs per set.
 
Up Next
Following the matches this weekend, Pitt State will travel to Edmond, Okla., to take on MIAA rival University of Central Oklahoma next Tuesday (Sept. 26).