PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University volleyball team will begin a five-match homestand with matches against Central Oklahoma, Missouri Southern and Central Missouri this week.

The Gorillas will meet the Bronchos Tuesday (Sept. 26) at 6 p.m. (CDT) at John Lance Arena/Whetzel Court. Pitt State will then battle Missouri Southern Friday (Sept. 29) at 6 p.m. and close out the week with a 2 p.m. match Saturday (Sept. 30) against Central Missouri.

The Gorilla Scoop
Pitt State is 6-6 overall and 2-2 in MIAA play thus far. The Gorillas split a pair of road matches last week, falling to No. 10 Nebraska-Kearney (3-1) last Friday (Sept. 22) and claiming a straight set win over Fort Hays State Saturday (Sept. 23).

Senior outside hitter Janae Thurston (Peculiar, Mo.) leads the team with 160.0 points (3.72 per set) and 139 kills (3.23 per set) while also contributing 123 digs (2.86 per set) and 22 total blocks (0.51 per set) to date. Thurston currently ranks fifth in the MIAA for kills and seventh in points.

Junior setter Jadyn Jackson (Augusta, Kan.) has orchestrated the offense this season to the tune of 379 assists (8.81 per set). She also has totaled 130 digs (3.02 per set), 40 kills (0.93 per set) and 24 service aces (0.56 per set). Jackson ranks first in the MIAA for service aces and fifth in assists.

Redshirt junior middle hitter Carly Clennan (El Dorado, Kan.) leads the team and ranks fifth in the MIAA in blocks (1.16 per set). In addition to her 37 total blocks, Clennan has compiled 85.5 points (2.19 per set) and 62 kills (1.59 per set).

Additionally, junior outside hitter Seville Gates (Merriam, Kan.) has contributed 85.0 points (2.36 per set) and 73 kills (2.03 per set), while junior outside hitter Ivy Fink (Hoyt, Kan.) has compiled 77.0 points (1.97 per set), 61 kills (1.56 per set) and 100 digs (2.56 per set).

Sophomore libero Josie McCroskey (Springdale, Ark.) has posted a team-leading 178 digs to date. She ranks seventh in the MIAA in digs (4.14 per set).

Head Coach Jen Gomez
Jen Gomez is in her eighth season leading the Gorillas. She has a compiled a 88-121 (.421) 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 290-256 (.531) 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.

Bronchos Roaming Free
No. 20 ranked Central Oklahoma enters the weekend with a 12-2 overall record (3-1 MIAA). UCO meet the Gorillas in the opening week of MIAA play with the Bronchos picking up a 3-0 win at Edmond, Okla., on Sept. 16.

Junior middle blocker Jenna Karp has contributed a team-leading 164.0 points (3.64 per set), 28 total blocks (0.62 per set) along with 138 kills (3.07 per set) to rank sixth in points and sixth in kills among MIAA ranks.

Junior outside hitter Addison Wimmer leads the way offensively with 145 kills (3.15 per set) while contributing 158.5 points (3.45 per set) and 88 digs (1.91 per set) to rank fourth in kills and eigth in points among MIAA ranks.

Junior defensive specialist Jaedynn Evans has a team-leading 211 digs (6.03 per set) to rank third in the MIAA.

Sophomore Lindsey Houran and freshman Riley Roberts handles the setting duties for the Bronchos for 556 (11.58 per set) combined assists with Houran ranking eighth in the MIAA with 335 (8.82 per set).

Pride Patrol
Missouri Southern enters the week with a 9-4 overall (2-2 MIAA). The Lady Lions are 3-1 on the road with their lone loss coming at St. Joseph, Mo., against Missouri Western on Sept. 16.

Senior outside hitter Fernanda Canedo leads the team with 182.0 points (3.96 per set) and 164 kills (3.57 per set) while adding 148 digs (3.22 per set) to rank third in points, third in kills and tenth in digs among MIAA ranks.

Sophomore defensive specialist Tori Hamilton has 180 digs (4.29 per set) to lead the team and rank fifth in the MIAA.

Junior Amelia Neels leads the team with 39 total blocks (0.87 per set) along with having 130.5 points (2.90 per set) and 94 kills (2.09 per set) to rank seventh in blocks and 15th in points among MIAA ranks.

Sophomore Hannah Allick and freshman Landrey VanOverschelde split setting duties for a combined 463 assists (10.07 per set) with Allick ranking ninth in the MIAA with 275 (6.71 per set).

Jennies Atop The MIAA
Central Missouri is 7-5 overall and 4-0 in MIAA play. The Jennies stand alone in first place of the MIAA standings through two weeks. The Jennies are 2-0 on the road with wins over Missouri Western (Sept. 14) and Northwest Missouri (Sept. 16).

Redshirt senior outside hitter Kersti Nix leads the team with 195.0 points (3.90 per set) and 178 kills (3.56 per set) while chipping in with 82 digs (1.64 per set) and 23 total blocks (0.46 per set) to rank first in points and kills among MIAA ranks.

Redshirt sophomore defensive specialist Grace Winkelmann has 179 digs (3.58 per set) to lead the team and rank sixth in the MIAA.

Redshirt junior Grace Southern leads the team with 66 total blocks (1.32 per set) along with contributing 170.5 points (3.41 per set) and 126 kills (2.52 per set) to rank first in total block, fifth in points and tenth in kills among MIAA ranks.

Redshirt senior Olivia Olson handles the setting duties with 503 (10.06 per set) assists to rank first in the MIAA along with 136 digs (2.72 per set) to rank 13th in the MIAA.

Up Next
Following the weekend action, the Gorillas will play host to Washburn Friday, Oct. 6, at 6 p.m. (CDT) and Emporia State Saturday, Oct. 7, at 6 p.m. to conclude their five-match homestand.