PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University volleyball team will play host to a pair of MIAA foes in weekend action at John Lance Arena/Whetzel Court.
 
The Gorillas will entertain Missouri Western Friday (Oct. 18) at 6 p.m. and battle Northwest Missouri Saturday (Oct. 19) at 6 p.m.
 
The Gorilla Scoop

• Pitt State is 9-8 overall (4-3 MIAA) on the season. The Gorillas are riding a three-game winning streak after posting a trio of four-set wins against Newman (Oct. 8), Central Missouri (Oct. 11) and Missouri Southern (Oct. 12).
• Statistical leaders for the season are Vix Vilott with 198.0 points (3.30 per set) and 161 kills (2.68 per set); Jesa Wallace with 311 assists (6.48 per set); Josie McCroskey with 286 digs (4.77 per set); and Anna Dean with 57 total blocks (0.95 per set).
• Senior outside hitter, Ivy Fink (Hoyt, Kan.) registered her 1000th collegiate kill in the penultimate point against UCM last Friday (Oct. 11). Fink accumulated 697 kills at Butler Community College (2022-23) and in her two years at PSU has 312 kills currently.
• Junior libero/defensive specialist, Josie McCroskey (Springdale, Ark.) currently has 989 digs in her career at Pitt State to sit in 11th among program ranks.
• Jen Gomez is in her ninth season leading the Gorillas. She has a 101-142 overall record at PSU while leading the program into four of the last five MIAA Tournaments. Gomez notched his 100^th career victory at PSU in the Gorillas 3-1 victory over UCM (Oct. 11).

The Opposition

• Missouri Western is 14-4 (5-2 MIAA) heading into the weekend following a four-set win over No. 11 Central Oklahoma on Oct. 12. Holly Heldt leads the team with 242.0 points (3.67 per set); Taylor Russell with 196 kills (3.11 per set); Nessa Johnson has 743 assists (11.26 per set); Anna Weberg with 319 digs (4.83 per set); and Lily Kurz has a team-high 84 total blocks (1.29 per set).
• Northwest Missouri is 10-7 (4-3 MIAA) heading into the weekend after a three-set win against Arkansas-Fort Smith on Oct. 12. Abby Brunssen leads the team with 256.0 points (3.94 per set), 215 kills (3.31 per set) and 74 total blocks (1.14 per set); Ella Caffery has provided 519 assists (7.75 per set); and Kyah Luhring with 334 digs (4.99 per set).