PITTSBURG – The Pittsburg State University women's volleyball team will return home to the friendly confines of John Lance Arena/Whetzel Court for a pair of conference matches against the University of Nebraska Kearney and Fort Hays State University this weekend.
 
First serve against No. 4 UNK is set for 6:00 p.m. (CT) on Friday (Oct. 31). Against the Tigers on Saturday (Nov. 1), first serve is set for 6:00 p.m.
 
Last week, the Gorillas went 2-0 with a four-set win over a receiving votes Rockhurst University team in Kansas City and a sweep over the Newman University Jets in Wichita.
 
Under the direction of Megan Besecker, the Gorillas are 10-11 overall and 3-7 in the MIAA this season. For her career, Besecker has a 68-21 record.
 
Currently tied for seventh in the conference standings with Fort Hays and Arkansas – Fort Smith, Pittsburg State will battle against FHSU and UAFS on consecutive upcoming Saturdays
 
As a team, the Gorillas lead Division II for blocks per set at 2.92 and are second for total blocks with 231. In MIAA ranks, the Gorillas lead the conference in blocks per set and total blocks while being fourth in digs (1,306) and fifth in digs per set (16.53).
 
Anna Dean the reigning MIAA Defensive Athlete of the Week, leads the team with 250.0 points (3.29), a .302 hitting percentage and 110 total blocks (1.45). Vix Vilott is the team leader for kills (192, 2.46) and service aces (30, 0.38). Jesa Wallace (568, 7.19) and Abby Carr (263, 4.24) split setting duties, while Josie McCroskey leads the team with 388 digs (4.91).
 
Among Division II individual ranks, Dean is seventh for blocks per set and eighth for total blocks. Don'Yah Cosie is 19^th for blocks per set (1.21) and McCroskey is 32^nd in digs and 40^th in digs per set.
 
Among MIAA individual ranks, Dean leads the conference in blocks per set and ranks second in total blocks. Cosie is third for blocks per set and sixth for total blocks (74). McCroskey is third for digs and fourth in digs per set. Vilott is fifth in service aces and Wallace ranks fifth in total assists.

No. 4 Nebraska – Kearney begins the weekend with a 21-2 overall and 8-2 in the MIAA record. The Lopers are tied for second in the league standings with Emporia State and Missouri Western.
 
This season, UNK is 6-2 on the road with losses in the form of sweeps against Emporia State (Oct. 10) and No. 9 Washburn (Oct. 11).
 
In series history, the Lopers have a 45-4 advantage and are 1-9 in the last 10 meetings.
 
Carly Purdy is the team leader for points (284.0, 3.94) and kills (263, 3.65). Ellie Spang leads the team with 319 digs (4.31) and 17 service aces (0.23). Peyton Neff is the orchestrator of the offense with 815 assists (11.16) and Sydney Davis leads the team with 53 total blocks (1.15).
 
Fort Hays State will begin the weekend with a 14-8 overall record, 3-7 in the MIAA. The Tigers are tied with PSU and Arkansas – Fort Smith for seventh in league standings.
 
Coming into the weekend the Tigers are 2-4 on the road this season, with wins over Oklahoma Baptist (Sept. 20) and Northwest Missouri (Oct. 3).
 
In series history, the Tigers have a slim 36-35 advantage over Pitt State. The Gorillas in the last 10 matches are 6-4 but are currently on a two match losing skid against FHSU.
 
Ashlyn Reeves leads the team with 223.0 points (2.97) and 66 total blocks (0.88). Gracie Rains is the team leader with 202 kills (2.77). Abrey Galt (476, 6.26) and Annie Eaton (224, 2.95) split setting duties, with Kirsten Evans the team leader with 34 service aces and 290 digs (3.67).