PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State volleyball team will hit the road for the first time in October with matchups at Missouri Western Friday (Oct. 13) and Northwest Missouri Saturday (Oct. 14).

The Gorillas match against the Griffons is set for 6 p.m. Friday at the MWSU Fieldhouse and the Pitt State – NWMSU match is slated for 3 p.m. Saturday at Bearcat Arena.

The Gorilla Scoop
Pitt State is 6-11 overall and 2-7 in the MIAA thus far. Last weekend the Gorillas dropped a pair of home matches to No. 19 Washburn (3-1) and Emporia State (3-0.

Senior outside hitter Janae Thurston (Peculiar, Mo.) leads the team with 222.0 points (3.64 per set) and 197 kills (3.23 per set) to rank fourth in the MIAA for kills and seventh for points.

Sophomore libero Josie McCroskey (Springdale, Ark.) has a team leading 266 digs (4.36 per set) to rank sixth in the MIAA.

Junior setter Jadyn Jackson (Augusta, Kan.) is the primary conductor of the offense to the tune of 534 assists (8.75 per set) to rank seventh in the MIAA while her 28 service aces (0.46 per set)) rank her second.

Redshirt junior middle hitters Carly Clennan (El Dorado, Kan.) and Kate Bandre (Overland Park, Kan.) combine to offer something slightly different with the middle as Clennan has posted 55 total blocks (0.96 per set) to rank seventh in the MIAA along with 118.5 points (2.08 per set) and Bandre has 105 kills (1.81 per set) and 124.0 points (2.14 per set).

Head Coach Jen Gomez
Jen Gomez is in her eighth season leading the Gorillas. She has a compiled an 88-126 (.411) overall record at Pitt State and led the Gorillas to four straight MIAA Tournament appearances.
 
Overall, Gomez has 16 years of collegiate head coaching experience and a 290-261 (.526) career coaching record.
 
Gomez averaged 26.8 wins per year in five seasons as head coach at Oklahoma City University from 2006-10 while restarting a program that had been dormant on campus since 1983.

Griffon Talk
Missouri Western enters Friday's action at 13-5 overall and 6-3 in the MIAA following a 3-0 victory over MSSU Tuesday (Oct. 10).

Freshman outside hitter Holly Heldt leads the team with 218.5 points (3.64 per set) and 187 kills (3.12 per set) to rank seventh in the MIAA for points and kills.

Junior setter Nessa Johnson has a team leading 625 assists (10.42 per set) to rank third in the MIAA.

Freshman defensive specialist Anna Weberg leads the team with 313 digs (5.22 per set) to rank second in the MIAA.

Junior middle hitter Lily Kurz has a team best 66 total blocks (1.16 per set) to rank third in the MIAA.

Bearcat Territory
NWMSU brings a 9-8 overall record (4-5 MIAA) into the weekend. The Bearcats dropped a 3-1 decision at Central Missouri in their most recent action Tuesday.

Junior middle hitter Avery Kemp leads the team with 186.0 points (3.21 per set) and 153 kills (2.64 per set) to rank 14th in the MIAA for points and 16th for kills.

Redshirt freshman setter Ella Caffery has a team best 496 assists (8.86 per set) and 21 service aces (0.38 per set) to rank sixth for assists and service aces in the MIAA.

Junior defensive specialist Kyah Luhring leads the team with 305 digs (4.55 per set) to rank third in the MIAA.

Junior middle hitter Abby Brunssen has a team leading 52 total blocks (0.80 per set) to go with being second on the team in points with 168.0 (2.58 per set) and 139 kills (2.14 per set) to rank 15th in total blocks in the MIAA.

Up Next
The Gorillas will travel to Wichita next Tuesday (Oct. 17) for a road match against Newman, before returning home to face Fort Hays State Friday (Oct. 20) and Nebraska-Kearney Saturday (Oct. 21).