PITTSBURG – The Pittsburg State University women's volleyball team will travel to Rockhurst University and Newman University this week.
 
First serve from the Mason-Halpin Field House in Kansas City, Mo., is set for 6:00 p.m. (CT) on Wednesday (Oct. 22) against Rockhurst. To end the week the Jets of Newman University will host the Gorillas in Fugate Gymnasium at 6:00 p.m., on Friday (Oct. 24).
 
Last week the Gorillas went 0-2 with a four-set defeat against Missouri Western and were swept against Northwest Missouri.
 
Under the direction of Megan Besecker, the Gorillas are 8-11 overall and 2-7 in the MIAA. Currently, the Gorillas are tied for ninth in the conference standings heading into the weekend. For her career, Besecker has a 66-21 record.
 
As a team, the Gorillas rank second in Division II for blocks per set at 2.82 and third for total blocks with 203.
 
Anna Dean leads the team with 220.5 points (3.20), a .284 hitting percentage and 96 total blocks (1.39). Vix Vilott is the team leader for kills (168, 2.37) and service aces (26, 0.37). Jesa Wallace (513, 7.13) and Abby Carr (231, 4.13) split setting duties while Josie McCroskey leads the team with 353 digs (4.90).
 
Rockhurst holds a 14-6 overall record and is 5-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC). Picked to finish third in the GLVC preseason polls the Hawks have made it to 10 straight NCAA National Tournaments. At home this season, RU is 2-0 with sweeps over Drury and Southwest Baptist.
 
Overall Rockhurst maintains a 28-3 advantage in the series history, claiming eight out of the last ten matches. Wednesday's match will be the first meeting between the two teams since Sept. 24, 2019, when RU swept Pitt State in Pittsburg.
 
Sarah Pyle leads the team with 328.0 points (4.43), 279 kills (3.77) and 28 service aces (0.38). Molly Trachta (440, 5.95) and Mary Kate Mulvaney (371, 5.15) are the conductors of the offense. Katie Vargo leads the team with 249 digs (3.36) and Delaney Hope is the team leader for total blocks with 76 (1.03).
 
Newman enters the week with a 2-18 overall, 0-9 in the MIAA record. This season at home the Jets are 0-4, falling to Arkansas – Fort Smith, Central Oklahoma, Emporia State and Washburn.
 
In the series history, Pittsburg State holds a 22-4 advantage and has claimed nine straight matches, including sweeping the Jets in Pittsburg on Oct. 7 this season.
 
Isabella Lamb leads the team with 197.0 points (2.98), 164 kills (2.48) and 42 total blocks (0.64). Madalyn Hoot conducts the offense with 540 assists (8.06) while Brooklyn Lane leads the team with 252 digs (3.76).