Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Anchorage, Alaska ­— The Pittsburg State Volleyball team started its 2022 season up in Alaska and ended the first day splitting a pair of matches against Point Loma and Lubbock Christian, 3-0 and 3-1.

In the first match, the Gorillas battled neck and neck with the Sea Lions but a late run in the first set gave Point Loma a 25-17 win. The Sea Lions continued by taking set two, 25-13. The Gorillas battled until the end in the third set before falling, 25-18.

Junior Janae Thurston led the Gorillas with 10 kills in the first match, while graduate Brianna Richard had 20 assists and graduate Marissa Bates collected 17 digs.

In the second match, the Gorillas started strong against the Lady Chaps, taking set one, 25-23. LCU bounced back with a 25-22 win in set two, but the Gorillas took control in the pivotal third set, 25-18. Pitt State trailed 12-9 in the fourth set, but the Gorillas caught fire with an 11-3 run to take control and win the match..

Graduate Meg Auten took control for the Gorillas in the match with 15 kills and 21 digs. Richard continued to dish out the assists with 40. Bellarmine transfer Seville Gates had 15 kills, while Bates chipped in with 25 digs, defensively.

The Gorillas return to the tournament action Saturday with a 5 p.m. (CDT) match-up against Alaska Fairbanks and Pitt State wraps up the two-day event by facing the host Alaska Anchorage at 10 p.m.