PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University volleyball team is set to travel to the northwest reaches of the MIAA with matches against the University of Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Hays State University.
 
The Gorillas will take the court against the Lopers Friday (Nov. 1) at 6 p.m. (CDT) at the Health & Sports Center before heading to Hays, Kan., to battle the Tigers Saturday (Nov. 2) at 2 p.m. at Gross Memorial Coliseum.
 
The Gorilla Scoop

• Pitt State is 10-10 overall (5-5 MIAA) on the season. The Gorillas are coming off a three-set home win against Newman last Friday (Oct. 25). Pitt State has won four of its last six matches.
• Statistical leaders for the season are Vix Vilott with 224.5 points (3.21 per set) and 181 kills (2.59 per set); Jesa Wallace with 362 assists (6.24 per set); Josie McCroskey with 361 digs (5.16 per set); and Anna Dean with 75 total blocks (1.07 per set).
• Senior outside hitter, Ivy Fink (Hoyt, Kan.) registered her 1000th collegiate kill in the penultimate point against UCM (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.) became the 10^th Gorilla in team history to eclipse 1000 career digs against MWSU (Oct. 18). In the last match, McCroskey passed PSU Hall of Famer Sammie Williams (2005-08) for ninth in team history and currently has 1064 digs.
• Jen Gomez is in her ninth season leading the Gorillas. She has a 102-144 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) to become the third coach in team history (Ibraheem Suberu, 1999-2013 & Joan Warrington, 1978-83).

 
The Opposition

• Nebraska-Kearney is 22-1 overall, 9-1 in the MIAA and ranked No. 5 in the most recent AVCA NCAA Division II Top 25 poll. The Lopers are 12-0 at home this season and have only dropped two sets inside the Health & Sports Center. Statistical leaders are Mia Berg with 263.0 points (4.11 per set), 218 kills (3.41 per set) and 69 total blocks (1.08 per set); Peyton Neff has dished out 878 assists (12.54 per set); and Alli Wiese has accumulated 383 digs (5.47 per set).
• Fort Hays State enters the weekend at 10-9 overall and 2-8 in the MIAA. The Tigers are 3-5 at home this season, but 0-5 in MIAA play at Gross Memorial Coliseum. Statistical leaders are Gracie Rains with 293.5 points (3.76 per set) and 277 kills (3.55 per set); Caiya Stucky leads the team with 662 assists (8.71 per set); Kirsten Evans has 317 digs (4.06 per set); and Taytum Lovesee leads the way with 85 total blocks (1.10 per set).