PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University volleyball team will open MIAA play this weekend with home matches Friday (Sept. 14) and Saturday (Sept. 15) at John Lance Arena/Whetzel Court.
 
The Gorillas will make their conference debut against Missouri Southern State University Friday at 6 p.m. and wrap up the weekend action Saturday against Southwest Baptist University at 2 p.m.
 
Scouting the Gorillas
Pitt State will bring an 11-2 record into the weekend action. The Gorillas enter MIAA play on a four-match winning streak after sweeping their action last weekend at the GAC/MIAA Crossover in Oklahoma. Pitt State's 11-2 start to the season is the program's best record since the 2007 team opened with a 15-1 mark.
 
Senior right-side hitter Lauren Regier leads the Gorillas with 146 kills (3.11 kps), while freshman out-side hitter Meg Auten follows closely with 103 kills (2.71 kps).
 
Lauren Dunn is ranked first in the MIAA with 35 service aces (0.74 aces per set), while also leading the team with 218 digs (4.64 dps) on the season.
 
The Opponents: 
MSSU is 0-9 on the season. The Lions ended the 2017 campaign in ninth place in the MIAA standings.
 
Offensively, sophomore outside hitter Janelle Brehm leads the Lions with 3.17 (kps) and freshman outside hitter Shaylon Sharp follows with 2.03 (kps). Junior defensive specialist Bridgette Jaeger averages 5.67 digs per set.
 
SBU is 4-9 on the season heading into a Friday match against MIAA rival University of Central Oklahoma. The Bearcats returned 10 players from a 2017 squad that finished 12^th in the MIAA standings last season.
 
Junior middle hitter Greysen Roster leads the Bearcats offense with 2.23 kills per set and 0.82 blocks per set. Senior defensive specialist Bailey Baumann adds 4.43 digs per set, while junior setter Makenzie Bouse contributes 7.39 assists per set.

Up Next
Following the matches this weekend, Pitt State will host MIAA rival University of Central Oklahoma next Tuesday (Sept. 18).