PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State volleyball team will return to John Lance Arena to host a pair of weekend MIAA matches against Fort Hays State Friday (Oct. 20) and the University of Nebraska-Kearney Saturday (Oct. 21). First serve for Friday's action against the Tigers is set for 6 p.m. (CDT), while Saturday's tilt will get underway at 3 p.m.
The Gorilla Scoop
Pitt State is 7-13 overall and 3-9 in the MIAA. The Gorillas completed a season sweep over Newman University Tuesday (Oct. 17) with a decisive 3-0 victory over the Jets at Fugate Gymnasium.
Senior outside hitter Janae Thurston (Peculiar, Mo.) leads the team with 250.5 points (3.58 per set) and 224 kills (3.20 per set). Among MIAA ranks she is fifth in kills and eighth in points.
Sophomore libero Josie McCroskey (Springdale, Ark.) has a team leading 296 digs (4.23 per set) to rank fifth in the MIAA.
Junior setter Jadyn Jackson (Augusta, Kan.) is the primary conductor of the offense to the tune of 588 assists (8.40 per set) and 31 service aces (0.44 per set). Among MIAA ranks she is tied for second in service aces and eighth in assists
Redshirt junior middle hitters Carly Clennan (El Dorado, Kan.) and Kate Bandre (Overland Park, Kan.) combine to offer something slightly different in the middle as Clennan has posted 63 total blocks (0.97 per set), 92 kills (1.42 per set) and 129.0 points (1.98 per set) while Bandre has contributed 113 kills (1.71 per set) and 133.0 points (2.02 per set).
Head Coach Jen Gomez
Jen Gomez is in her eighth season leading the Gorillas. She has a compiled an 89-128 (.410) 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 291-263 (.525) 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.
Tigers Prowl
Fort Hays State is 8-13 (2-10 MIAA) heading into Friday's matchup. The Gorillas topped the Tigers, 3-0, at Hays on Sept. 23.
Sophomore outside hitter Gracie Rains leads the team with 243.0 points (3.24 per set) and 226 kills (3.01 per set) to rank 10th in kills and 16th in points in the MIAA.
Graduate middle blocker Emily Ellis has the most total blocks in the MIAA at 90 (1.18 per set) while being second on the team with 219.0 points (2.88 per set) and third in kills at 156 (2.05 per set).
Sophomore setter Caiya Stucky has a team-best 679 assists (8.82 per set) to rank seventh in the MIAA.
Sophomore defensive specialist Brooke Hyland leads the team with 306 digs (3.97) to rank seventh in the MIAA.
Lopers at the Top
UNK is 21-1 overall, 11-1 in the MIAA and ranked No. 8 in the most recent AVCA/NCAA Division II Top 25 poll. The Lopers sit alone atop the conference standings and UNK is riding a 12-match win streak heading into the weekend. The Lopers topped Pitt State, 3-1, at Kearney, Neb., on Sept. 22.
Leading the Lopers' charge is graduate right side hitter Jaden Ferguson. Ferguson has compiled team highs of 254.0 points (3.63 per set), 200 kills (2.86 per set) and 23 service aces (0.33 per set. She also has contributed 187 digs (2.67 per set) and 54 total blocks (0.77 per set). Ferguson ranks sixth in the MIAA in points, 11th in service aces, 15th in kills and 16th in blocks.
Redshirt senior outside hitter Emersen Cyza is second on the team with 215.5 points (3.48 per set) and 190 kills (3.06 per set). She ranks seventh in the MIAA in kills and ninth in points.
Redshirt sophomore setter Peyton Neff leads the team, and the MIAA, with 797 assists (11.23 per set) while contributing 157 digs (2.21 per set), 43 total blocks (0.61 per set) and 22 service aces (0.31) as well.
Freshman outside hitter Mia Berg has 65 total blocks (1.10 per set) to lead the team and rank fourth in the MIAA.
Redshirt junior outside hitter Lauren Taubenheim has a team-best 235 digs (3.46 per set).
Up Next
Following the weekend action, the Gorillas will travel to Warrensburg, Mo., next Friday, Oct. 27, to face the University of Central Missouri at 6 p.m. Pitt State will battle Missouri Southern State University the next day (Oct. 28) in Joplin, Mo., at 7 p.m.
