PITTSBURG – The Pittsburg State University women's volleyball team will begin the second weekend of MIAA play at home against the No. 10 Washburn University Ichabods and the Emporia State University Hornets.
 
First serve from John Lance Arena/Whetzel Court on Thursday (Oct. 2) is set for 6:00 p.m. (CT) against WU. The Gorillas will end the weekend with a 6:00 p.m. start on Friday (Oct. 3) against ESU.
 
Last week, Pittsburg State went 1-1 with a four-set victory over Arkansas – Fort Smith on Friday (Sept. 26), before being swept by No. 2 Central Oklahoma Saturday (Sept. 27).
 
Under the direction of Megan Besecker, the Gorillas are 7-5 overall and 1-1 in the MIAA. For her career, she owns a 65-15 overall record.
 
As a team, the Gorillas rank second in Division II for blocks per set at 2.87 and seventh for total blocks with 129. Pitt State also ranks in the Top-50 nationally for assists per set (49^th) with 12.24.
 
Leading the team in points (151.5, 3.37) and kills (131, 2.91), Maliyah Johnson is also hitting .245. Anna Dean is the team leader for total blocks (62, 1.44) with Don'Yah Cosie leading the team with a .268 hitting percentage. Jesa Wallace has dished out 279 assists (6.20) and Abby Carr with 204 (4.53) split setting duties. Josie McCroskey has accumulated a team-high 235 digs (5.22) while Vix Vilott is the team leader for service aces with 19 (0.43).
 
Ranking in the Top-25 among Division II ranks, Anna Dean is 10^th in blocks per set and 17^th for total blocks. Josie McCroskey is 21^st in digs per set and 24^th for digs accumulated.
 
Washburn the No. 10 team in the most recent AVCA Poll (Sept. 29), enters the weekend with a 12-1 overall, 1-1 MIAA record. In series history, WU has a 79-24 advantage over the Gorillas and is currently on a 32-match winning streak dating back to the 2009 season. This will mark the first road contest of the season for the Ichabods, who last week lost to Missouri Western in four sets and claimed a four-set win over Northwest Missouri to begin MIAA action.
 
Austin Broadie is the team leader for points (168.0, 3.82) and kills (154, 3.50) while hitting .384. Corinna McMullen (277, 6.44) and Sydney Conner (154, 4.97) split the setting duties. Taylor Rottinghaus leads the team with 177 digs (4.02) while Alex Dvorak has a team-high 46 total blocks (1.10).
 
Emporia State will begin the weekend with an 11-2 overall record, going 2-0 in the opening weekend of the conference slate. In series history, ESU holds a 77-32 advantage and has won three straight over the Gorillas. This season the Hornets are 1-1 on the road with a three-set loss to No. 16 Point Loma and a five-set win over Oklahoma Baptist in September.
 
Nyia Anderson leads the team with 143.0 points (3.33) and 132 kills (3.07). Brailee Bogle (283, 6.15) and Delainee Dexter (191, 4.15) split the setting duties. Boglarka Rady is the team leader for digs with 180 (3.91) and Brooklynn Weaver is the team leader for total blocks.