PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University volleyball team will return to action Friday and Saturday (Oct. 26-27) when the Gorillas battle a pair of MIAA foes in home matches. The Gorillas will meet Fort Hays State University Friday at 6 p.m. and No. 6 University of Nebraska-Kearney Saturday at 2 p.m. in John Lance Arena.
 
Friday's match against the Tigers will serve as Senior Night as the Gorillas honor the outgoing class of 2018 in pre-game activities.
 
Scouting the Gorillas
Pitt State enters the weekend action with a 17-10 overall record and a 6-8 MIAA mark. The Gorillas are tied for sixth place in the MIAA standings with Emporia State University. The top eight teams at the end of the regular season qualify for the MIAA Tournament.
 
Pitt State will look to build upon a modest two-match winning streak after earning a pair of straight-set sweeps last weekend against Missouri Southern and Southwest Baptist.
 
Offensively, senior rightside hitter Lauren Regier leads the squad in MIAA play with 2.82 kills per set followed closely by freshman middle hitter Morgan Henning with 2.14 kills per set.
 
Freshman setter Brianna Richard has collected 306 assists in conference play, averaging 6.00 assists per set.
 
Junior defensive specialist Lauren Dunn helps pace the Pitt State defense in MIAA play with 3.92 digs per set and leads the conference with 0.58 aces per set.
 
Scouting the Opposition
Fort Hays State is 8-18 overall and 2-12 in MIAA play entering Friday's action.
 
Freshman outside hitter Isabelle Reynolds leads the Tigers offense averaging 2.76 kills per set. FHSU's defensive leaders are junior defensive specialist Abbie Hayes with 392 digs (4.51 dps) and freshman middle blocker Christianna Herron with 0.95 blocks per set.

No. 6 Nebraska-Kearney is 26-2 overall and 12-2 in the MIAA entering a Friday road match against No. 14 Central Oklahoma.
 
Senior outside hitter Kendall Schroer leads the team with 255 kills (3.15 kps) while sophomore middle blocker Anna Squiers chips in with 2.23 kps and 0.88 blocks per set. Senior defensive specialist Ellie McDonnell contributes 5.73 digs per set.
 
Up Next
Following the weekend contests, Pitt State will face a pair of road matches against Emporia State next Friday, Nov. 2, and Washburn the next day (Nov. 3).