PITTSBURG - The Pittsburg State University women's volleyball team is ready to finish the regular season with a home match against Missouri Southern before ending the season on the road against Central Missouri this weekend.
The match against MSSU on Thursday (Nov. 13) will be Senior Night for the Gorillas with first serve from John Lance Arena/Whetzel Court set for 6:00 p.m. (CT). Saturday (Nov. 15) to end the regular season, UCM will host Pittsburg State at the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center, first serve at 2:00 p.m.
Last week Pittsburg State went 1-1 with a sweep road win over Arkansas - Fort Smith (Nov. 8) and a five set loss to No. 7 Central Oklahoma (Nov. 7). For her efforts last week,
Anna Dean was named the MIAA Defensive Athlete of the Week for the second time this season after averaging 2.50 total blocks a set.
Under the direction of
Megan Besecker, the Gorillas are 12-13 overall and 5-9 in the MIAA this season. For her career, Besecker has a 70-23 record.
Currently situated seventh in the MIAA standings, Pittsburg State with a win on either Thursday or Saturday would secure the seventh seed in the upcoming MIAA Tournament.
As a team, the Gorillas lead Division II for blocks per set (3.05) and total blocks (287). Among MIAA ranks Pittsburg State leads the conference in blocks per set and total blocks while being third in digs (1,588), fourth in opponent hitting percentage (.159) and fifth in digs per set (16.89).
Dean leads the MIAA and ranks third in DII for total blocks (143) and blocks per set (1.57). The team leader for points (308.5, 3.39) and hitting percentage (.293) with 207 kills - 64 errors - 488 attempts.
Don'Yah Cosie ranks fourth in the conference and 56th in DII with 96 total blocks with her 1.26 blocks per set ranking third in the MIAA and 14th in DII.
Josie McCroskey leads the team and ranks second in the MIAA, 27th in DII for digs (476) and her 5.06 digs per set is the fourth-best in the MIAA and ranks 34th among DII.
Jesa Wallace this season has accumulated 685 assists (7.29) with
Maliyah Johnson (227, 2.64) and
Vix Vilott (219, 2.35) the top hitters.
Missouri Southern will begin the week with a 9-17 overall record, going 3-11 in the MIAA to be tied for ninth in the league standings. This season on the road, MSSU is 2-9 with both wins coming against early season tournament hosts Missouri S&T (Sept. 6) and Southwest Baptist (Sept. 13). In the series history between the two schools, the Lions have a 77-42 advantage, but in the last 10 meetings the teams are 5-5.
Alana Moesch leads the team with 386.5 points (4.11), 337 kills (3.59) and 37 service aces (0.39), while Hannah Allick (513, 5.46) and Mataiya Barber (301, 4.24) split setting duties. Tori Hamilton is the team leader for digs with 362 (3.85) and Fernanda Merancio leads the squad with 48 total blocks (0.51).
Central Missouri enters the week with an 18-7 overall record, going 9-5 in the MIAA and are sixth in the conference standings. This season at home, UCM is 8-2 with losses coming against then No. 7 Central Oklahoma (Oct. 31) and then No. 20 Missouri Western (Nov. 7). In series history against Pitt State, UCM has a 74-7-1 advantage and are 8-2 in the last 10 matches.
Emma Siron leads the team with 309.5 points (3.52) and 270 kills (3.07), with Kayla Baer the conductor of the offense with 990 assists (10.88). Rachel Ziesman leads the squad with 89 total blocks (1.07) and Grace Winkelmann is the team leader for digs (481, 5.29) and service aces (32, 0.35).
