PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University volleyball team close out the regular season with a pair of road matches against Missouri Southern State University and the University of Central Missouri.
Pitt State will meet the Lions at 6 p.m. (CST) Friday (Nov. 15) at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center in Joplin, Mo. The Gorillas will then take on the Jennies Saturday (Nov. 16) at the Jerry Hughes Athletic Center at Warrensburg, Mo.
The Gorilla Scoop
• Pitt State is 10-14 overall (5-9 MIAA) on the season. The Gorillas are coming off a four-set loss against No. 11 Central Oklahoma (Nov. 8) and a three-set loss against Arkansas – Fort Smith Saturday (Nov. 9). Pitt State is currently eighth in the MIAA standings heading into the final week of regular season play. The top eight teams in the MIAA qualify for the 2024 MIAA Postseason Tournament.
• Statistical leaders for the season are
Vix Vilott with 260.0 points (3.13 per set) and 212 kills (2.55 per set);
Jesa Wallace with 417 assists (5.96 per set);
Josie McCroskey with 429 digs (5.17 per set); and
Anna Dean with 86 total blocks (1.05 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 332 kills currently.
• Junior libero/defensive specialist,
Josie McCroskey (Springdale, Ark.) became the 10th Gorilla in team history to eclipse 1000 career digs against MWSU (Oct. 18). Currently, McCroskey ranks ninth in team history with 1132 digs.
•
Jen Gomez is in her ninth season leading the Gorillas. She has a 102-148 overall record at PSU while leading the program into four of the last five MIAA Tournaments. Gomez notched his 100th 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
• Missouri Southern is 4-22 overall and 2-12 in MIAA play. This season, the Lions are 0-8 at home inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. Statisitcal leaders are Amelia Neels with 277.5 points (2.83 per set) and 75 total blocks (0.77 per set); Alana Moesch has 242 kills (2.60 per set); Landrey VanOverschelde has dished out 673 assists (7.39 per set);and Kyla Randall leads the way with 557 digs (5.68 per set).
• Central Missouri enters the weekend at 9-14 overall and 5-9 in the MIAA. The Jennies are 3-5 at home this season with a four-set win over Missouri Southern (Oct. 25) in their last game inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center. Statistical leaders are Elinor Engel with 334 points (3.80 per set) and 280 kills (3.18 per set); Kayla Baer leads the team with 595 assists (11.02 per set); Grace Winkleman has 446 digs (5.07 per set); and Rachel Ziesman leads the team with 93 total blocks (1.07 per set).
