PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University volleyball team will hit the road for a pair of in-state MIAA match-ups against Emporia State University Friday (Nov. 3) and Washburn University Saturday (Nov. 4). The Gorillas and Lady Hornets will battle at 6 p.m. (CDT) Friday in downtown Emporia at W.L. White Auditorium while Pitt State will meet the Ichabods at 2 p.m. Saturday at Lee Arena on the WU campus.

The Gorilla Scoop
Pitt State is 9-16 overall and 4-12 in the MIAA. The Gorillas currently sit in 10th place in the conference standings with four matches left on the regular season schedule. The Gorillas enter the weekend action following a dramatic 3-2 non-conference home victory over William Jewell College Tuesday (Oct. 31).

Senior outside hitter Janae Thurston (Peculiar, Mo.) leads the team with 299.5 points (3.33 per set) and 268 kills (2.98 per set). Junior setter Jadyn Jackson (Augusta, Kan.) is the primary conductor of the offense to the tune of 772 assists (8.87 per set) and 36 service aces (0.41 per set).

Sophomore libero Josie McCroskey (Springdale, Ark.) has a team leading 390 digs (4.33 per set). Redshirt junior middle hitter Kate Bandre (Overland Park, Kan.) has 149 kills (1.73 per set), 175.5 points (2.04 per set) and 40 total blocks (0.47 per set).

Head Coach Jen Gomez
Jen Gomez is in her eighth season leading the Gorillas. She has a compiled an 91-131 (.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 293-266 (.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.

Stingers In The Air
Emporia State owns an 11-13 overall record (5-11 MIAA) and sit in eighth place in conference standings. The Lady Hornets, who are 3-5 at home this season, posted a 3-0 win over Pitt State at John Lance Arena on Oct. 7.

Junior outside hitter Sandora Sasaki leads the team with 443.0 points (5.09 per set) and 416 kills (4.78 per set). Freshman setter Brailee Bogle orchestrates the offense with 803 assists (9.23 per set) while chipping in with 201 digs (2.31 per set).

Junior defensive specialist Anakaren Chavez has a team-leading 311 digs (3.57 per set). Senior middle hitter McKenya Sorrells leads the team with 69 total blocks (0.86 per set) and is second on the team with 212.0 points (2.65 per set) and 152 kills (1.90 per set).

Ichabods On The Mind
Washburn enters the week receiving votes in the latest AVCA poll. The Ichabods are 14-9 overall (8-8 MIAA) and ranked sixth in the MIAA standings. WU is 9-2 at home this season and the Ichabods posted a 3-1 win over the Gorillas in the first meeting of the season on Oct. 6.

Junior outside hitter Jalyn Stevenson leads the team with 301.0 points (3.63 per set) and 264 kills (3.18 per set) while being second in digs with 257 (3.10 per set). Sophomores Corinna McMullen and Sydney Conner split setting duties for 884 combined assists (10.65 per set) with 382 digs (4.60 per set) and 64 service aces (0.77 per set).

Freshman defensive specialist Taylor Rottinghaus leads the team with 317 digs (4.17 per set). Sophomore outside hitter Bella Limback Has a team-best 77 total blocks (0.95 per set).

Up Next
The Gorillas will wrap up regular season action next week by hosting Northwest Missouri on Nov. 10 and Missouri Western on Nov. 11.