PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University volleyball team will put a seven-match winning streak on the line this weekend when the Gorillas hit the road for a pair of MIAA matches.
Pitt State will travel to St. Joseph, Mo., Friday (Sept. 24) for a match against Missouri Western State University before continuing on to Maryville, Mo., to meet No. 13 ranked Northwest Missouri State University Saturday (Sept. 25).
The Gorillas and Griffons will take the court at 5 p.m. (CDT) Friday at the MWSU Fieldhouse, while Pitt State and Northwest will battle at 6 p.m. Saturday at Hughes Fieldhouse.
The Matchups
- The Gorillas are 8-2 on the season and 2-0 in conference play after a perfect opening weekend of MIAA play against Central Oklahoma and Missouri Southern. Pitt State has won seven consecutive matches since starting the season 1-2.
- The Griffons enter Friday's matchup with a 7-3 overall record and an 0-2 mark in MIAA play. The Bearcats are 8-2 overall and 1-1 in MIAA play heading into a Friday match-up against Missouri Southern.
Scouting The Gorillas
- As a team, the Gorillas rank second in the MIAA in hitting percentage (.263) and service aces (1.86 per set).
- Junior outside hitter Meg Auten ranks 5th in the MIAA in points scored (133.5), averaging 3.81 points per set. She also ranks seventh in the league in kills (3.40 per set)
- Junior setter Brianna Richard now sits second in the MIAA in assists with 360 (10.29 per set).
Scouting The Griffons
- Senior middle Ali Tauchen sits at 10th in the MIAA in kills with 100 (2.94 per set).
- Tauchen also ranks 11th in points with 121.
Scouting The Bearcats
- The Bearcats are ranked No. 13 in most recent AVCA NCAA Division II Top 25 poll. Northwest won its first five matches, before posting a 3-2 mark in its last five contests.
- Redshirt freshman Payton Kirchhoefer ranks fourth in the MIAA in kills with 121 (3.56 kills per set).
